Stiliyan Petrov named a coach at Aston Villa
Stiliyan Petrov was today revealed as Aston Villa's new assistant development coach.
The 33-year-old, who retired this month as he battles acute leukaemia, had been earmarked for a coaching role by manager Paul Lambert.
The Villa boss wanted to keep the Bulgarian, who he played with at Celtic, at the club after his retirement and Petrov will assist development coach Gordon Cowans.
Villa's under-19 side won the NextGen Series this season and Petrov insisted he is desperate to develop the club's new talent.
He said: "I'm very excited by this new challenge and I wish to thank the club and the manager, Paul Lambert, for giving me the opportunity to continue my association with Villa, which I have always regarded as a privilege.
"I will study for my coaching badges over the coming months and I am looking forward very much to working with Gordon Cowans, someone I know and respect, a true Villa legend.
"My hope is that I can assist Gordon through my own experience in the game and that I can help the young lads to progress, become better players and better human beings.
"There are important values that we have always stood for at the club and we will continue to do so.
"The main thing for me, however, is that it is not for sentimental reasons that I will be taking up this role, but because I have something to contribute and I really want to do this."
