Ex-footballer Stiliyan Petrov thanks 'amazing' fans as cancer treatment comes to an end

Stiliyan Petrov in his playing days (left), after being diagnosed (centre), and this week (right). Credit: PA/Stiliyan Petrov/Twitter

Former footballer Stiliyan Petrov has thanked fans for their "amazing support" as he enters his final week of cancer treatment.

The ex-Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder has won a gruelling three-year battle with leukemia - the disease which forced him to retire from the game.

Petrov, who also captained Bulgaria and was capped 106 times for his nation, posted the photo of himself smiling while being examined.

Petrov - affectionately known in the game as "Stan" - is a cult icon for fans of the clubs he played for.

After his diagnosis in 2012, Villa fans devoted the 19th minute of each game to applause for him - a reference to his number 19 shirt.

The club itself has engaged in a number of fundraising and awareness campaigns in support of Petrov in that time, while previous club Celtic put on a charity match in front of 60,000 fans for his charity the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation.

Celtic organised a charity match to raise funds for the midfielder's foundation. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Archive
Villa fans applauded in the 19th minute of each game in support of

After completing chemotherapy last year, Petrov described how he felt lucky to be alive and said he was looking forward to getting back to normal life.

He also thanked his wife, family, friends and the fans that had helped him through the experience.