Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has announced his retirement as he continues to fight leukaemia.
TheBulgarian is in remission from a disease which was diagnosed in March2012 after he complained of feeling fatigued during a game at Arsenal.
'Softtreatment' remains ongoing and Petrov, who spent seven years at Celticbefore joining Villa in 2006, has decided to devote himself to charitywork rather than return to football.
In a statement released onthe Villa website he said: "It is with a heavy heart that I amannouncing my retirement from the game.
"The emotions areoverwhelming really, but the continued support of family, friends andthe great people I have come to know will make it easier for me to moveon from the only life I've ever known.
"That I am ready to embrace new challenges will make this process much easier.
"Sincebeing diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012, I have come tounderstand and appreciate the way in which this disease impacts thelives of so many people.
"I can help and I want to help and, insetting up a foundation to help address the issues involved when peopleare diagnosed with this illness, I hope to make a difference.
"Forthe life I've lived in football, I will always be incredibly grateful.For the opportunity this crazy thing that happened in my life has givenme, I also feel grateful in a strange kind of way.
"This crazything, somehow, has touched people and I want to try to channel this in apositive way. This will be the greatest challenge of my life.
"Iwish to thank the fans of Aston Villa and the Villa chairman, RandyLerner, chief executive Paul Faulkner and manager Paul Lambert, also thefans of Celtic, the Bulgarian fans and fans of football all over theworld who have helped me through the past year."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/8700621/Stiliyan-Petrov-announces-retirement-from-football-to-set-up-leukaemia-foundation[ 此帖被barrin在2013-05-09 18:04重新編輯 ]
