Latest news with #StiliyanPetrov
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Celtic: John Hartson on Brendan Rodgers, Stiliyan Petrov on Arne Engels
Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun), external Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required), external And Petrov expects Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, 22, to be "a completely different player next season". (Record), external Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Celtic players weigh in on Rodgers & recruitment
Former Celtic players weigh in on Rodgers & recruitment - gossip Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun) Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required) Rangers manager Barry Ferguson says Oscar Cortes and Danilo need to do more to get more first team minutes. (Herald - subscription required) Former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies ponders whether the club's next manager needs to have a bigger say on recruitment. (Sun) The SPFL could alter the structure of the Premiership play-offs such that the quarter-final and semi-finals are played over one leg before a two-legged final. (Herald - subscription required) Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, 25, is eager to help Bologna win the Coppa Italia for the first time in 51 years when they face AC Milan next midweek. (Herald - subscription required)
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic to hunt down '5 Daizen Maedas' as Brendan Rodgers warned club won't wait forever
Stiliyan Petrov wants to see his old side go for it this summer as they look to strengthen Stiliyan Petrov has backed Celtic to go big in the transfer market this summer to tool up for another crack at the Champions League. The Hoops hero was wowed by his old club's run to the knockout stages this season – where they pushed Bayern Munich all the way in the fight for a slot in the last 16. Petrov is convinced Brendan Rodgers will go again next term and he's convinced Parkhead chiefs will allow the boss to strengthen for the fight. Celtic spent almost £30m last summer and have the funds to go again at the end of this term. And Petrov admitted he's hoping the Hoops snap several stars of a similar standard to player of the year Daizen Maeda. When asked what Celts need for Europe, he joked: 'Buy another five Daizen Maedas! 'There's definitely going to be action from a Celtic point of view. 'I'm sure that Celtic has acknowledged that with the new format of the Champions League, they have a huge potential to do something special on the European stage. 'So I'm pretty sure that Celtic will spend money and give the boys some help. Because it's always good to see fresh faces, some quality and that's what Celtic needs.' Petrov insisted Celtic are in good shape – especially with Maeda in the side. The Japanese ace made a gruelling 20,000 mile round trip to Japan on family duty but returned to face Rangers on Sunday. The relentless attacker missed a chance to become an Ibrox hero in storage time but Petrov admitted the hitman has been priceless at Parkhead. He said: 'Well, I felt tired the way he was running for 97 minutes! 'He's just relentless. The way he's been playing, he's been incredible for all of the season. 'I think he's matured really well. He's learned how to penetrate with runs and make sure that he scores goals. 'This is what makes you a top player and he has become a top player for the club. 'I thought he could finish it better on Sunday, maybe that's something that you think about. 'But you can't blame him. People are talking about how in the last 48 hours he flew to Japan and back - and he played 97 minutes and he's still making that run. You have to give him a lot of credit.' And John Hartson believes trophy monster Brendan Rodgers needs to give sharp clarity on his long-term Celtic future or risk next season being overshadowed by constant speculation. But the former Parkhead hitman is backing Daizen Maeda to commit to the champions. Rodgers will be at Celtic next term, but nothing is certain beyond that with his current three-year deal expiring at the end of 2025/26. Hartson reckons it'd be ideal for his old club if the manager extends his stay, but says it's important to have the situation addressed as soon as possible. He explained: 'It's going to be up to the manager. In an ideal world, he'd stay for more years. He seems very happy. He's come back, he's won. 'He's got a tough game against Aberdeen (in the Scottish Cup Final), of course. But Brendan Rodgers haemorrhages trophies. That's what he does. He does what it says on the can. He's a winner. 'I think one million per cent he is in for next year. He'll certainly do the three years at the club with the contract that he signed. 'The issue you've got is the whole year Brendan will be asked questions: Are you staying? Are you going? "He doesn't want that to affect the team. Brendan will be linked with big moves to Italy and Spain and whatever. 'But I think, for everybody's sake, there has to become a time next season at some stage where Brendan will have to come out and tell people about his future because, if he waits until the end of the season, everything is going to be dominated by what Brendan is doing. 'Whether he does that, I think the club might want that as well. Let the club know so they can start preparing.' Maeda has put his own contract talk on hold until the Treble bid is over with the club aiming to hand out an extension to the Player of the Year. Hartson knows Celtic are masters at doing smart deals in the market, but does feel the Japanese is going nowhere for now. He said: 'I do think he'll stay. Celtic can offer Maeda a really decent contract and then because he's got a couple of more years on his contract, if they were to sell him, they'd get more money for him. 'Celtic have not stood in anybody's way. They'd love to keep Maeda and I'm sure there'll be a new contract offer because he's earned that. That goes without saying. 'But, if somebody comes in with an offer, I'm not even going to say a figure, with an offer that the board are happy with and the player would like a new challenge, they've never stood in anybody's way in that sense. 'Maeda's brilliant and certainly, you don't want to lose a player of his quality, shifted through from the wing. 'But he used to score goals on the wing as well and he played centre-forward for his country, Japan. That's what he played before Ange Postecoglou. "You look at the way Ange brought in Reo Hatate, Maeda, Kyogo, fantastic recruitment. 'It's that recruitment of players, I think, that has really pushed Celtic on in recent years. 'The Alistair Johnsons, getting the goalkeepers right, Joe Hart and then Kasper Schmeichel. Cameron Carter Vickers, Jota, selling him for £25 million and bring him back for £8 million. Their recruitment at Celtic deserve an awful lot of credit.' *John Hartson was speaking at his Foundation's annual golf event at Turnberry. John has been raising awareness about testicular cancer with his 'Grab Life By the Balls' campaign
The Independent
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
From Olympians to Love Island stars: How did famous candidates do in the local elections?
Local councillors are usually obscure figures, passionate local activists hoping to improve their areas or ambitious party loyalists wanting to climb the electoral ladder. But among the thousands of councillors who stood across the country on Thursday, a few names stood out. From Olympians to former Love Island stars, The Independent looks at whether celebrity power helped the candidates over the line in one of the most unpredictable sets of local elections in British history. Stiliyan Petrov Stiliyan Petrov, the son of an ex-Aston Villa and Bulgaria captain of the same name, stood for Reform UK. The son of Bulgaria's most capped player, he hoped to represent Nigel Farage 's party in Lapworth & West Kenilworth, Warwickshire. But he was beaten by the Green Party candidate, who got almost twice as many votes. James Cracknell James Cracknell stood for a seat on Oxfordshire County Council. The double Olympic gold medal-winning rower represented the Conservatives in Henley, having previously attempted to become the area's MP. Awarded an OBE for 'services to sport' in the 2005 New Year Honours list, he promised to help the area 'get its buzz back'. But he came second to a candidate from Henley Residents Group. Luke Campbell Reform UK's candidate to be the new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire is also an Olympic gold medalist. The boxer, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Hull and East Yorkshire has 'given me everything' and that he now wants to fight for the region in return. He was elected by a clear margin, winning more than 10,000 more votes than his nearest rival. Ollie Williams The Love Island star hoped to strike it lucky with voters and win a Reform UK seat on Cornwall council. Ollie Williams appeared on the ITV dating show in 2020, but left after just three days claiming he had feelings for another woman. The 29-year-old sparked fury among viewers as photos emerged of him posing beside dead animals, leading to suggestions he was 'trophy hunting'. He has avoided the limelight in the years since his appearance on the ITV show, but stood for Reform in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward, claiming 'freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it's time to act'. He was defeated by the Lib Dem candidate Sarah Preece. Arron Banks Self-styled 'Brexit bad boy' Arron Banks co-founded the campaign alongside now Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice. The long-standing Farage supporter ran to become the West of England mayor for his party. Announcing his candidacy at Reform's local election launch in Birmingham, he called on people to 'vote Banksy for Bristol'. As well as being close to Mr Farage, Mr Banks has a history of ties to Donald Trump and was pictured with him after the US Presidential election in 2016. He has cited Mr Trump's success as being the result of connecting with voters on an emotional level. Mr Banks and Mr Farage drew the interest of Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Mr Banks described the investigation as a 'witch hunt'. Mr Banks also made headlines after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. At the time, he commissioned a controversial poll on whether her murder had affected public opinion on voting.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
From Olympians to Love Island stars: The famous faces standing in the local elections in your area
Local councillors are usually obscure figures, passionate local activists hoping to improve their areas or ambitious party loyalists wanting to climb the electoral ladder. But among the thousands of councillors standing across the country on Thursday, a few names stand out. From Olympians to ousted ex-MPs, The Independent looks at how the main parties are hoping star power will help their candidates over the line in one of the most unpredictable sets of local elections in British history. Stiliyan Petrov Stiliyan Petrov, the son of an ex-Aston Villa and Bulgaria captain of the same name, is standing for Reform UK in the May local elections. His father is Bulgaria's most capped player and he hopes to represent Nigel Farage 's party in Lapworth & West Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 'I decided to stand for election because I think it's time the working-class people and the youth of this country have a voice that'll actually represent them,' the ex-professional footballer's son said. James Cracknell James Cracknell is standing for a seat on Oxfordshire County Council. The double Olympic gold medal-winning rower is standing as a Conservative for Henley, having previously attempted to become the area's MP. He was awarded an OBE for 'services to sport' in the 2005 New Year Honours list and is promising to help Henley 'get its buzz back', according to the local Conservatives. As a rower, he has made holding water companies to account over river cleanliness a key issue he is fighting on. Luke Campbell Reform UK's candidate for the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election is also an Olympic gold medalist. The boxer is swapping his gloves for the chance to represent the region as the first head of the new combined authority. He is the favourite to win, according to a recent More in Common poll, in what promises to be one of the closest results of the night as Reform, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour all stand a chance. Mr Campbell, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Hull and East Yorkshire has 'given me everything' and that he now wants to fight for the region in return. Ollie Williams The Love Island star is hoping to strike it lucky with voters and win a Reform UK seat on Cornwall council. Ollie Williams appeared on the ITV dating show in 2020, but left after just three days claiming he had feelings for another woman. The 29-year-old sparked fury among viewers as photos emerged of him posing beside dead animals, leading to suggestions he was 'trophy hunting'. He has avoided the limelight in the years since his appearance on the ITV show, but is now standing for Reform in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward. 'Our freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it's time to act,' he declared. Arron Banks Self-styled 'Brexit bad boy' Arron Banks co-founded the campaign alongside now Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice. The long-standing Farage supporter is now running to become the West of England mayor for his party. Announcing his candidacy at Reform's local election launch in Birmingham, he called on people to 'vote Banksy for Bristol'. As well as close ties to Mr Farage, Mr Banks has a history of ties to Donald Trump and was pictured with him after the US Presidential election in 2016. He has cited Mr Trump's success as being the result of connecting with voters on an emotional level. Mr Banks and Mr Farage drew the interest of Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Mr Banks described the investigation as a 'witch hunt'. Mr Banks also made headlines after the tragic murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. At the time, he commissioned a controversial poll on whether her murder had affected public opinion on voting.
