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.:: CAPTAIN PETROV QUITS BULGARIA, UNHAPPY WITH STOICHKOV ::. 15 Oct 2006
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Petrov quits Bulgaria, unhappy with Stoichkov SOFIA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov quit international soccer on Thursday, saying he did not want to play under national coach Hristo Stoichkov. "I don't want to play under the guidance of Hristo Stoichkov," the Aston Villa midfielder said in a statement. "My decision comes as a result of many events since Stoichkov took over."
Earlier, Stoichkov said there had been no row between the two men. "There's no conflict between me and Stilian," said Stoichkov after returning from Wednesday's 1-0 win over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 Group G qualifier. "He is a very important figure in our squad, he's our captain and will remain our captain while I'm the coach." Petrov said he would continue to support Bulgaria, who are second in the group table, despite making his shock announcement. "From the bottom of my heart I hope they qualify for the Euro 2008 finals," said the 27-year-old former CSKA Sofia and Celtic midfielder. The skilful Petrov, who scored seven goals in 66 appearances for his country, joined Premier League side Villa from Scottish champions Celtic in August for eight million pounds ($14.86 million). Stoichkov is hoping Petrov will reassess his decision. "There's a lot of time until our next match and I think we don't have to say anything rashly," said Bulgaria's coach. "It's possible this was made out of emotion. "I have no idea why he made this step but he has always been a tough guy and we'll have to respect his decision." "It was like a bolt from the blue," said striker Dimitar Berbatov. "He shared his intention with all of us last night after the match and we stayed late trying to persuade him to change his mind. "We still hope he'll change his decision. We are all very surprised but as you know time heals and we hope he'll be with us in our next game," added the Tottenham Hotspur forward. "It's a very unpleasant situation because he's one of our key players," said Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihailov. "It's astonishing. No one expected such news. It came in a moment when we have a very good atmosphere in the team and we're achieving positive results in our group." Bulgaria have won two and drawn two in Group G and lie two points behind leaders the Netherlands.
http://au.news.yahoo.com Villa’s Petrov quits Bulgarian national team SOFIA: Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov quit international football on Thursday, saying he did not want to play under national coach Hristo Stoichkov. “I don’t want to play under the guidance of Hristo Stoichkov,” the Aston Villa midfielder said in a statement. “My decision comes as a result of many events since Stoichkov took over.” Earlier, Stoichkov said there had been no row between the two men. “There’s no conflict between me and Stilian,” said Stoichkov after returning from Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 Group G qualifier. “He is a very important figure in our squad, he’s our captain and will remain our captain while I’m the coach.” Petrov said he would continue to support Bulgaria, who are second in the group table, despite making his shock announcement. “From the bottom of my heart I hope they qualify for the Euro 2008 Finals,” said the 27-year-old former CSKA Sofia and Celtic midfielder. The skilful Petrov, who scored seven goals in 66 appearances for his country, joined Premier League side Villa from Scottish champions Celtic in August for £8mil. Stoichkov is hoping Petrov will reassess his decision. “There’s a lot of time until our next match and I think we don’t have to say anything rashly,” said Bulgaria’s coach. “It’s possible this was made out of emotion. “I have no idea why he made this step but he has always been a tough guy and we’ll have to respect his decision.” “It was like a bolt from the blue,” said striker Dimitar Berbatov.
http://thestar.com.my Bulgarian captain Petrov walks out on national team SOFIA (AFP) - Bulgarian captain Stilian Petrov announced he was walking out on the national team after its lacklustre 1-0 win over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
Photo: AFP
"I do not want to play on the national team under the management of coach Hristo Stoichkov," the Aston Villa midfielder said in comments to the media. "I realize that this decision comes rather unexpectedly for the Bulgarian football community, but it does not come on the spur of the moment. Just the contrary - I have thought over my decision quite well," he added. "It comes as a result of a number of events that have piled up with time, since Stoichkov took over as national coach." The 27-year-old midfielder, who has scored seven goals in 66 appearances for Bulgaria and has been captain since April 2003, had left for England after Wednesday's match and did not fly back to Sofia with the team. He talked to Stoichkov and the team before his departure and was expected to officially announce his decision to quit the squad on Saturday but later decided to "cut short any speculation on the subject" and announced his reasons Thursday. Stoichkov said on arrival back in Sofia he had heard about his captain's decision but expressed hope that Petrov would give it a second thought. "I hope Stilian will change his mind. Let a couple of days pass so that we have enough time to discuss it with level heads," Stoichkov said. "Do not forget that I myself have quit and come back to help the national team," he added. Before the official announcement came, Stoichkov had played down any possibility that a conflict between him and the captain might have caused the walk out. "Stilian is our captain and he will remain our captain while I am the coach," he said at the airport. Bulgarian Football Union chief Borislav Mihaylov added: "That is too bad. I hope that it was just an outburst of emotion (that will pass)." The rest of the squad were also shocked at the news, most of them refusing to comment. "It came like a bolt from the blue when he told us last night," Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov said. "His absence will be felt in the team. We still hope that he'll change his mind but the final decision is his own," he added.
http://news.yahoo.com Petrov steps back from Bulgaria By Stoyan Georgiev, from Sofia
Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov has made the shock "final decision" to retire from international football at the age of 27. 'Final decision' The Aston Villa FC midfielder announced his move after Bulgaria's 1-0 UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying win in Luxembourg on Wednesday night. "This is my final decision and I will make an official statement on Saturday," said the 68-time international.
Second thoughts Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov is adamant the player's decision is not final, however, saying: "Stilian is the captain of the team and will remain so as long as I am in charge. When I was a player, I also retired from international football and then came back. I will speak with him."
Mihailov shocked Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihailov shares Stoichkov's surprise at the announcement, saying: "I hope this is a heat-of-the-moment thing but we must wait and see his motives behind the decision. Whatever his final decision is, we will respect it."
Leading role Petrov made his national-team debut in 1998 and has scored seven goals for Bulgaria since. The former PFC CSKA Sofia and Celtic FC playmaker took over as captain in April 2003 following Krassimir Balakov's retirement, taking a leading role as his country reached the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals.
http://www.uefa.com Stoichkov surprised by Petrov's decision to quit Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov said on Friday that captain Stilian Petrov's decision to quit international football because of his management of the team had come as a surprise. The 27-year-old midfielder had announced his decision on Thursday, a day after Bulgaria's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying win over Luxembourg, saying he did not want to play under Stoichkov. "I respect his opinion," Stoichkov said in a statement. "It's his right to decide his destiny.
Photo: www.sportal.bg
"I don't know anything about his motives but I'm really surprised that he didn't say anything to me over the last two years. He's captain of the team, he had never complained about anything and suddenly he announced it. "He told me something in Luxembourg, but it was nothing concrete. It was only rumours and speculation." Petrov became the third Bulgaria player after goalkeeper Zdravko Zdravkov and defender Ilian Stoyanov to quit since Stoichkov became national coach in 2004. Stoichkov, a former Bulgarian playing great who helped their run to the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals, was philosophical about the decision of another key player to leave the international game. "Such things happen in football...and unfortunately it's our turn now," he said. Bulgaria failed to qualify for this year's FIFA World Cup in Germany and are second in EURO 2008 qualifying Group G with eight points from four matches, two points adrift of the Netherlands.
http://www.fifa.com Bulgaria coach Stoichkov surprised by Petrov's behaviour SOFIA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov said on Friday that captain Stilian Petrov's decision to quit international football because of his management of the team had come as a surprise. The 27-year-old midfielder had announced his decision on Thursday, a day after Bulgaria's Euro 2008 qualifying win over Luxembourg, saying he did not want to play under Stoichkov.
"I respect his opinion," Stoichkov said in a statement. "It's his right to decide his destiny. "I don't know anything about his motives but I'm really surprised that he didn't say anything to me over the last two years. He's captain of the team, he had never complained about anything and suddenly he announced it. "He told me something in Luxembourg, but it was nothing concrete. It was only rumours and speculations." Petrov became the third Bulgaria player after goalkeeper Zdravko Zdravkov and defender Ilian Stoyanov to quit since Stoichkov became national coach in 2004.
Stoichkov, a former Bulgarian playing great who helped their run to the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, was philosophical about the decision of another key player to leave the international game. "Such things happen in football...and unfortunately it's our turn now," he said. Bulgaria failed to qualify for this year's World Cup in Germany and are second in Euro 2008 qualifying Group G with eight points from four matches, two points adrift of the Netherlands.
http://today.reuters.co.uk Bulgaria shocked by Petrov's decision to quit
SOFIA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov said he and his squad were shocked by captain Stilian Petrov's announcement that he was quitting the national team. The 27-year-old Aston Villa midfielder revealed his decision on Bulgarian Radio Gong earlier on Thursday and said he will explain his reasons on Saturday. "I think we'll have to let him express his motives," said Stoichkov at Sofia airport after returning from their Euro 2008 qualifier in Luxembourg. "He needs to shake free from the tension and think it over." "He is a very important figure in our squad, he's our captain. In fact, he'll remain our captain while I'm the coach." Stoichkov, however, remains optimistic and said he still hopes Petrov will reassess his decision. "There's a lot of time until our next match and I think we don't have to say anything rashly. It's possible this was made out of emotion." "I have no idea why he made this step but he has always been a tough guy and we'll have to respect his decision."
All the Bulgarian staff were stunned by the news which came just after a 1-0 win over Luxembourg that put the national team second in qualifying Group G. "It was like a bolt from the blue," said Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov. "He shared his intention with all of us last night after the match and we stayed late trying to persuade him to change his mind." "We still hope that he'll change his decision. We are all very surprised but as you know time heals and we hope he'll be with us in our next game," added the Tottenham Hotspur forward. Petrov, who has scored seven goals in 66 internationals, led the Balkan country to the Euro 2004 finals and was instrumental in helping them make a solid start in the current qualifying campaign. "It's a very unpleasant situation because he's one of our key players," said Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihailov. "But I want to hear his official statement before making any further comments."
"It's astonishing. No one expected such news. It came in a moment when we have a very good atmosphere in the team and we're achieving positive results in our group."
