Stiliyan Petrov could lead Aston Villa out at Wembley
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has revealed that former captain Stiliyan Petrov could lead the team out at Wembley in their FA Cup semi-final.
Petrov, 35, was forced to retire from playing in May 2013 after falling ill with acute Leukaemia.
But the ex-Bulgarian international, who is now in remission,last week accepted an invitation to join Sherwood's back room staff.
And the Villa chief said it would a 'good idea' to let the inspiring former Celtic man lead the team out at the Home of Football when Villa return to cup action in the semi-final.
Speaking after his team's 2-0 quarter-final win over local rivals West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, he said: "I haven't thought about it (but it is a) good idea.
"It is a possibility. We are pleased to have Stiliyan on board and involved. He can add something to this club this season and beyond."
It is an idea that was mooted two seasons ago when Aston Villa reached the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
The players revealed their desire for Petrov to lead them out if they made the final, but the team then lost at the penultimate stage against Bradford City in a two-legged affair.
Meanwhile Sherwood said his team's victory over the Baggies on Saturday was among the best moments of his fledgling managerial career.
The former Blackburn Rovers man, who led Tottenham Hotspur to a sixth placed finish in the Premier League last season, said: "It is right up there.
"Certainly as a manager there ain't no better days that this."
The last week has seen Villa's fortunes enjoy a major upturn following two straight defeats in Sherwood's first two league matches in charge.
The 46-year-old, who replaced Paul Lamber in mid-February, saw Villa lose 2-1 at home to Stoke City and then 1-0 at Newcastle in consecutive games last month.
But Villa escaped the Premier League's bottom three with Tuesday's 2-1 home win over Albion before completing a sweet double over their rivals at the weekend.
And he said: "You don't appreciate these times unless you have experienced the lows.
"I always felt that as a player. You can't win every week, there are two teams who want to win.
"You are going to have disappointments but it is good to have that feeling (sometimes to make you) realise you want this."
