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Stil not ready

Aston Villa legend Stiliyan Petrov says one day he WILL manage his beloved club… but not today

Bulgarian admits he is "not ready" to jump into management yet as he earns his coaching badges

Stiliyan Petrov rules himself out of Aston Villa manager job

STILIYAN PETROV says one day he WILL manage Aston Villa - but not today.

Roberto Di Matteo was sacked on Monday after he won just one of his 11 league games in charge.

 Stiliyan Petrov says he is not yet ready to become Aston Villa manager
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Stiliyan Petrov says he is not yet ready to become Aston Villa managerCredit: Getty Images
 The Aston Villa legend admits that one day he will manage his beloved club
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The Aston Villa legend admits that one day he will manage his beloved clubCredit: Getty Images
 Stiliyan Petrov in action for Aston Villa in pre-season against Worcester City
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Stiliyan Petrov in action for Aston Villa in pre-season against Worcester CityCredit: Getty Images
Villa

striker Marlon Harewood - to focus on his coaching badges.

And the Bulgarian, who won a vicious battle with leukaemia after being diagnosed in 2012, maintains he is not yet ready to jump into management.

Petrov, 37, told : "I have always been honest with myself and I know that I am not ready for that job.

 Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Aston Villa on Monday
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Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Aston Villa on MondayCredit: Reuters
 The Italian managed just one win in 11 Championship games this season
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The Italian managed just one win in 11 Championship games this seasonCredit: Reuters

"I know one day I will become [Villa manager], but it is way too early for me.

";They need a good manager, an experienced manager, who can bring stability to the club."

Petrov claims he was not surprised by Villa chief Dr Tony Xia's decision to swing the axe on an under performing Di Matteo.

He added: "It is about results. If you don't get results, you obviously don't stay in your job.

"Fans expect the club to get promotion back to the Premier League but instead of getting closer they went further and further so I'm not really surprised that the chairman made the decision and made it very quickly.

 Steve Bruce is a frontrunner for the vacant Aston Villa job
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Steve Bruce is a frontrunner for the vacant Aston Villa jobCredit: PA:Press Association
 Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is also in the running to take over at Aston Villa
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Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is also in the running to take over at Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
 Ex-Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood hinted he would relish a return to the club
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Ex-Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood hinted he would relish a return to the clubCredit: Getty Images

"They have done quite good business [in the summer], they have a very, very good team, but it just seems that the manager couldn't get them to play, to build them, to make the balance, to make them play together.

"The chairman made a very quick decision because he knows he needs somebody who can change it quickly because he wants this club back in the Premier League. To do that, he needed to make a dramatic decision, and he made it.

"We wait and see who will be the next one and I hope he can do a better job."

Lee Johnson and Steve Bruce are both in line to take charge at Villa, while former boss Tim Sherwood hinted he would relish a return to the club.



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