Former Aston Villa, Leicester City and Sunderland boss reportedly done with football management

Former Aston Villa midfielder Stilyan Petrov believes that Martin O'Neil is done with football management.

O'Neil was linked with taking over Rapid Bucharest earlier this year, but the job ended up going to Neil Lennon. The two-time European Cup winner is now 72, and Petrov who played under him at two clubs doesn't believe that he'll be making a return to the dugout.

He last managed Nottingham Forest in 2019, and has been out of management for five-and-a-half years. Earlier this year, he was appointed chair of the League Manager’s Association. He has also launched a podcast with iconic commentator Clive Tyldesley and does some punditry work for various outlets in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

“I don't think he [Martin O’Neill] will [return to management]. After the last two conversations we had, he's got a different role now and I think he really enjoys it. He's on every TV station as well, so he's a media darling, or whatever you call it.”

"He deserves it for everything he's done in football. He's a great man and human being. Really smart. Strange humour, I would say, but we love him."

O'Neil who played under Brian Clough and won back to back European trophies, managed Villa from 2006 to 2010. He arrived from Celtic, having won four Scottish Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and was also a UEFA Cup runner-up. At Villa, he guided them to three consecutive top six finishes and they reached the Carabao Cup final, losing to Manchester United.

“He [Martin O’Neill] is a great, great manager,” added Petrov.

“He gave me a new lease of life when he came to Celtic, and I’ve followed him since then.

"When you have a manager like that you appreciate it. We've got plenty of stories, but I'll just keep my mouth shut and respect the gaffer.”

As well as managing Aston Villa, O'Neil also managed Norwich City, Leicester City, Sunderland, and the Republic of Ireland. In his managerial career, he is just 33 games shy of reaching 1,000 games and has a win percentage of 50.4%.