| Celtic Multimedia | Media | Players & Managers Biogs |
Details
Title: You Can Call Me Stan: The Stiliyan Petrov Story
Author: Mark Guidi, Stan Petrov
Published: 2005
Player Homepage: Stan Petrov
Synopsis
Since signing for Celtic in the summer of 1999 for 2 million from CSKA Sofia, Stiliyan Petrov has established himself as one of the best footballers in Europe. The 25-year-old Bulgarian is now one of the Glasgow giant’s longest-serving and most popular players. With a massive following, Petrov is a superstar in his homeland, has regularly captained his country at major tournaments, and is regarded as Bulgaria’s finest player since Hristo Stoitchkov.
Now, for the first time, one of Celtic’s most gifted players tells his life story so far in this revealing autobiography, co-written with acclaimed football writer Mark Guidi. In his own words, Petrov opens his heart on his spartan upbringing in Bulgaria, retreads his first steps in domestic football and details the dramatic events that brought him to Celtic at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. The man his friends call Stan, takes us inside the dressing-room of the Hoops and tells us what he really thinks of the three managers he has worked under at Parkhead: Jozef Venglos, John Barnes and the gaffer who saved his career, Martin O’Neill.
Petrov reveals why he once almost walked out on Celtic, and reflects upon the night he broke his leg in 2001, an incident which he feared would prematurely end his career. Instead, inspired by Celtic legend, Henrik Larsson, he fought back to establish himself as one of Europe’s finest talents. He also recounts his experiences with Celtic on the road to Seville in 2003, gives an intriguing insight into that incredible run to the UEFA Cup final and recounts all the drama behind Celtic’s 2004-05 race, for the title with fierce rivals Rangers.
Review
Keep The Faith: David Potter
One does become very wary of books written by players in mid-career. There will be very few earth-shattering revelations, for the writer is still working with the men concerned. There will inevitably be the “poor but honest upbringing”, “what a nice bunch of lads I play with”, “how much my family mean to me” and even more predictably “my fantasy XI”. All this is sadly churned out in this book, although in Stan’s case, there are a few added dimensions.
The book is clearly written by Mark Guidi, for I doubt whether Stan, who could hardly speak English in 1999, would know the word “brouhaha” on page 150. Come to think of it, it doesn’t occur in several English Dictionaries that one! He also does seem to have acquired a fair knowledge of Celtic’s history! Yet it is clear that Stan has contributed and indeed probably dictated it all to Guidi.
Stan’s “poor but honest” childhood occurs in what is frequently described as the most depressing country in Europe , an impression that is not dispelled by Stan’s account of sudden electric blackouts, poor transport, general poverty and shocking facilities for the Bulgarian national team. His enforced National Service would do little to persuade anyone that the army life is any kind of fun.
Stan’s arrival in Scotland in 1999 was not happy, and this was reflected in his play. He certainly took a long time to impress the Parkhead punters, but this was perhaps more the fault of then Celtic Manager John Barnes than the young, bewildered and totally lost Bulgarian boy who suddenly found himself in Glasgow in a totally different culture. He was homesick, phoned home all the time and on one occasion almost quit because he couldn’t take it any more.
Gradually however under O’Neill, his career took off until today when you will find very few arguments with the statement that Stilian (Stiliyan, to be accurate) is a very vital part of the Celtic machine. The improvement in his play has clearly been paralleled by the happiness in his private life.
He gives a vivid and detailed account of his leg break against St. Johnstone in March 2001. We can wince along with him and feel his frustration at his inevitably slow recovery. We can empathise with his nerves before games and even when he spoke to the Paisley CSC.
The book is always readable, although the chapters on playing for Bulgaria and Euro 2004 are of less concern to us. Stan denies categorically that he is a “diver”, and devotes a whole chapter to that effect. His best games for the Club are probably shared by most of us.
The photographs are a little disappointing in that there could have been more, and more thrilling ones than Celtic players walking off the field after the Artmedia cuffing, for example, or Stan swapping shirts with Steven Gerrard of Liverpool.
The price of £15.99 is perhaps too much, one feels. There are better Celtic books on the market this Christmas, notably “Ten Days That Shook Celtic” or “Heroes Are Forever – The Life and Times of Jimmy McGrory”.
But you won’t go far wrong if you buy this one for your father / mother / son / daughter or indeed anyone else’s Christmas stocking. It is a pleasant read, and Stan (we have been calling him that for years in any case) emerges as a fine character and a real Celt. But we knew that anyway!
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; illustrated edition edition (6 Oct 2005)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1845960742
ISBN-13: 978-1845960742
Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 2.8 cm
Links
- […]
