Stiliyan Petrov lifted his first trophy with his Sunday League side sponsored by Concrete Developments

"Winning cup with Wychall Wanderers over-35s means as much to me as medal from UEFA Cup Final" says ex-Celtic star Stiliyan Petrov.

He feared for his life and felt he would never play again after his shock diagnosis in March 2012 with acute leukaemia while club captain of Premier League Aston Villa.

But the star’s latest bone marrow test this week was clear and he played a starring role in the Central Warwickshire Over-35s Premier Division One Cup Final, insisting it meant as much to him as his UEFA Cup Final runners-up medal.

The tiny ground and 300-strong crowd at Boldmere St Michaels FC in Sutton was a world away from Petrov’s previous competitive victories in the game.

After scoring a long-range opener in Wychall Wanderers’ 6-0 win over Aston Manor on Thursday night, Petrov, who wore his trademark No.19 shirt, enjoyed some well-earned champagne with his team-mates.
And the 35-year-old admits his latest silverware topped the lot after a memorable occasion in front of his wife, Paulina, and sons Stiliyan and Kristiyan.

He said: “It will go next to my UEFA Cup medal – every medal is valuable through my career and this will definitely go there.

“But it is more valuable than everything else – it is priceless. People may ask why are you saying that? But I am satisfied.

“After my treatment people told me I wouldn’t play football again but now I can kick a ball again – even at this level – and win something.

“I am still beside my family and I have managed to play nearly 90 minutes and win a cup. It’s great.”

Stan's charitable foundation:
http://www.thestiliyanpetrovfoundation.com/