Stiliyan Petrov has reflected on a turbulent start to his British career, revealing he struggled to cover basic living costs despite arriving at Celtic for a substantial transfer fee. The Bulgarian midfielder, who later became a firm favourite at Aston Villa, moved to Glasgow from CSKA Sofia in 1999 in a deal worth just under £3m.
Speaking alongside his former Villa team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor and presenter Laura Kirk-Francis on their In The Mixer podcast, the 47-year-old explained that his wages did not reflect the size of his signing fee. He stated that he took home only £300 each week, which left him unable to comfortably pay for groceries during his opening months in Scotland.
Petrov insisted that financial reward was never his primary motivation, telling his listeners that he could have pursued larger pay packets elsewhere rather than committing himself to two major clubs. He stressed that building a lasting legacy mattered far more to him than chasing bigger contracts throughout his playing days.
Life on the pitch proved equally challenging initially. The midfielder described feeling isolated within the dressing room because of a language barrier, admitting he would arrive for training, complete his work and leave without speaking to anyone. He suggested that the coaching staff under John Barnes offered little support to help him integrate.
His fortunes shifted dramatically when Barnes departed and Martin O'Neill was appointed manager. Petrov recalled celebrating the managerial change because he had been frozen out of the squad, and noted that his new boss immediately laid down a clear challenge: six weeks to lose ten kilograms and demonstrate he belonged in the first team.
The demanding pre-season regime paid off, transforming Petrov into a key figure at Celtic before his eventual move to the Midlands. His recollections offer Villa supporters a reminder of the resilience required behind the polished performances they later witnessed at Villa Park.
