“As patron of Football Saving Lives, it is my goal to see a player from every team in the Premier League supporting the charity. In that way, our message about the importance of HIV education and testing could reach literally millions of people. I hope you, too, will lend your support to Football Saving Lives.”

The message is simple;  just Get Tested !

Stiliyan was our founding patron, and we’ll always be grateful for his kindness to us. He took a step back from his charitably work during his treatment for leukaemia, but remains a strong supporter today.

Serving as captain of both Aston Villa and the Bulgarian national side, with which he has earned more than 100 caps, Stiliyan’s career has been remarkable. Now retired from the game, but coaching again at his beloved Aston Villa, he spent eight successful years at Scottish super club Celtic before arriving at  Villa in 2006. He remained with the Birmingham club until his retirement in 2013.

The first years of his professional career were spent with Bulgarian club PFC CSKA Sofia where he won the Bulgarian Championship in 1997 and the national cup in 1997 and 1999. His period at Celtic was even more successful, winning the Scottish Premier League four times, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup three times each, and winning a UEFA Cup runners-up medal in 2003.

At Villa, he  won the Peace Cup and was runner-up in the Football League Cup, as well as winning the Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year award in the same year.