Stiliyan Petrov launches charity foundation
Former Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has announced plans to launch a charity foundation to help fellow leukaemia sufferers and their families.
The ex-Villa and Celtic midfielder was forced to give up the game earlier this year after being diagnosed with the disease in March 2012.
And as part of the foundation's launch, the Bulgarian, who is now in remission, will host a match between a Celtic team and a Stiliyan side at Celtic Park on Sunday September 8.
Admission to the ground will be £10 for adults and £5 concessions and 'Stan' is hoping to see the 'house full' signs at Parkhead on the day of the match.
He said: "I have been given a great opportunity from Celtic to start my foundation with a game here at Parkhead.
"Obviously, all of the money will be split between two or three different charities and I hope we will raise enough money to start the foundation and to make a difference right from the start.
"I also hope that it will be a full Celtic Park for the game, just as it has always been."
The 33-year-old opened his heart on the moment he was told he would have to retire from football.
Petrov, who has been made assistant manager for Villa's reserves, said: "I just burst into tears.
"It was the news I dreaded. To be honest, hearing that was just as tough, if not tougher, than the moment when they told me I had leukaemia."
The Bulgarian was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease in March 2012, but always believed he would one day return to the Villa first-team.
But Petrov finally had to give up the dream after advice from doctors. He said: "Before I started my treatment, I didn't know how long it would take to recover.
"I was hoping, sort of convinced myself, it would take a few months and then I would be back playing soon after.
"Every few months I had very strong chemo sessions and I kept saying to my wife Paulina that I'd get back playing one day but she never gave me an answer, never backed me up on that.
"She knew different but didn't want to tell me the news I didn't want to hear. It was the same with my doctor, professor David Linch, when I mentioned it to him.
"After about five months I really confronted him and demanded an answer. He told me straight that I should come to terms with having to retire.
"I had been in football all my life and after all the things I achieved in my career, it was hard to accept. It's still hard to accept, I can't lie."