Aston Villa won't offer Stiliyan Petrov contract

More than four years have passed since Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia, but if the Bulgarian midfielder is to return to Aston Villa, it won't be as a player.

On Wednesday, manager Roberto Di Matteo confirmed Petrov wouldn't be offered a contract by Villa, but divulged that he offered the 37-year-old a chance to return to Villa Park in a different role.

"Stiliyan is an inspiration to all of us," Di Matteo said. "I have spoken to him and explained my thoughts and offered him the chance to remain at the club. Stiliyan is going to discuss this with his family before coming back to us."

Petrov, who took the pitch for Villa between 2006 and 2012, announced his retirement from professional football in May 2013, when he was in remission. However, he returned to the Villans last year, coming back to work with the first team and joining Tim Sherwood's coaching staff.