“I had tough times. I had great times. But I enjoyed it all – every time I put on the claret and blue shirt”
Stan Petrov needs no second invitation to sum up his six-year claret and blue career.
He doesn’t even pause for thought.
“It was just brilliant – every single minute of it! I had tough times. I had great times. There were more great times, I must admit. But I enjoyed it all – every time I put on the claret and blue shirt.
“When I arrived here, I knew what kind of club I was joining – a magnificent club with a big history and a huge, passionate fanbase. I wasn’t disappointed with what I found.
“The fans were really great. They were on my back for a while in the early days but after that I managed to prove to them that I was a good player with my football passion on the pitch.
“I think fans appreciate that, you know. I didn’t complain or moan. I think they appreciated that.
“I fell in love with the club, no question. I had a great time with some great players – and in front of great fans.
“That’s something I will never, ever forget.”
Petrov joined Villa from Celtic in a £6.5m move in August 2006, linking up with Martin O’Neill, who had worked with the playmaker in Scotland.
His first game came against West Ham, who themselves had signed Argentina pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the build-up.
The media circus revolved around the Hammers duo – but Petrov stole the show with a performance of composure and class in the 1-1 draw.
His debut would have been accompanied by a goal but for a spectacular clearance from under the bar by defender Tyrone Mears.
“I had a good debut. I was very pleased with that,” he said. “I played really well. I was unfortunate not to score too if you remember?
“I impressed people, which was nice. I had obviously moved down from Celtic Park to Villa Park – from the Scottish Premier to the English Premier.
“People questioned about players coming down from Scotland to England, they still do in fact, that’s a normal thing.
“But I think I surprised some people with the way I played, the way I performed and the way I started.
“But then I had to go through a very difficult spell. I was good on the first day and then had a tough time on the pitch – it was from one extreme to another. I was so happy when it turned around.”
Such a superb start was always going to be hard to follow and he never quite managed to scale those heights again in the 2006-07 season – although goals against Sheffield United and Middlesbrough were bright spots.
He made less appearances the following campaign and was left out by boss O’Neill on occasions as he looked for the midfielder to recapture his Buoys form.
Petrov admits that dip was tough but his performances in the closing months of 2007-08 were the beginning of a brilliant spell for the club.
“It was hard. No doubt,” he continued. “But as a professional player, you understand that can happen.
“If you don’t perform, fans won’t be happy and you have to prove them wrong and show that you have what it takes by putting in performances every week.
“When I was out, Gareth Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker were playing really well together.
“I was a good team-mate, that’s just as important in your job as a professional footballer.
“If you don’t play, you support your pals and work hard in training every day to get your place back. It’s an easy process really.
“You make your team-mates better this way because they want to stay in the team and you become better yourself too.
“Then Nigel Reo-Coker got injured and I got a chance. I took it and never looked back.”
After coming back into favour that term, Petrov excelled in a new role as O’Neill looked for him to be the team’s anchor man.
He had made his name as a goalscoring central ace but now he was asked to play deeper, win the ball and protect the back four.
It’s a position he excelled in – and it played a part in his wonder goal at Derby County – a 45-yard strike in April 2008 which won a hat-trick of awards – Match of the Day and Match Magazine’s Goal of the Month and Villa Goal of the Season.
“That goal at Pride Park was not long after I got back in the team,” he continued. “Martin had given me a new job to do – defensive midfielder. I was now looking after the ball and – when the team lost the ball – it was my role to win it back and organise the side more. I maintained the ball when we got it too.
“That new position on the pitch meant I was getting further and further away from the opposition goal.
“That Derby goal was the only way I was going to score! That was the only possible chance for me because I was so far away from the opposition goal all the time.
“I thought ‘I will give it a go.’ And it ended up being a beautiful goal!”
Petrov from the halfway line? You can say that again!
Paul Brown 