Clubs: PFC CSKA Sofia, Celtic FC, Aston Villa FC

UEFA honours
UEFA Cup: runner-up 2003

• Born in Montana, Bulgaria, Petrov's dynamism and scoring prowess from midfield has made him a firm favourite for club and country.

• Nurtured at local side PFC Montana 1921, Petrov made the breakthrough at CSKA Sofia, winning the Bulgarian league title in 1997 and the Bulgarian Cup in both 1997 and 1999.

• In 1999 he became Bulgarian football's most expensive export when he signed for Celtic in a €4.5m transfer. Although he made little impact in his first Scottish season, things improved under new manager Martin O'Neill and he went on to lift four Scottish Premier League championships, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups with the Glasgow outfit.

• The box-to-box midfielder also played a key part in Celtic's run to the 2003 UEFA Cup final. The game against FC Porto in Seville proved to be a classic, but Celtic lost it 3-2 after extra time.

• After winning the league in 2006, Petrov agreed a new Celtic contract. However, he promptly joined Aston Villa for €9.6m to be reunited with boss O'Neill, leaving Celtic Park after a total of 228 top-flight appearances and 55 goals.

• Has go on to make more than 150 Premier League outings for Villa and was named captain following Martin Laursen's retirement in 2009. In May 2009 he also signed a new four-year contract.

• Petrov made his national-team debut with Bulgaria in 1998 and captained the team throughout qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004, scoring three vital goals. He appeared in their first two games at the Portugal final tournament yet was dismissed against Denmark as Bulgaria bowed out. Petrov now has more than 100 international caps, having achieved his century versus Switzerland in March 2011.