Martin O'Neill has hailed Stan Petrov for his captaincy during Villa's impressive season.

O'Neill has been impressed with not only Petrov's leadership on the pitch but also his outstanding performances too.

He also praised the midfield star for his zest and passion when encouraging his team-mates off the pitch too.

He said: "I've been particularly pleased with Stiliyan.

"He has done exceptionally well here in the last two seasons.

"It took him a bit of time to get adjusted to things here. I had known him from my Celtic days. He has been an exceptional player for us the last couple of seasons.

"I think he has taken the captaincy on and one of the things he does do here, he tries to work off the field as strongly as possible for his team-mates.

"I think they have a very high regard for him and I'm delighted with the job he is doing, not just as a captain but importantly as a player for us.

"The most important thing for a player here is to play well.

"Stiliyan is held in really high regard by the players too and I think that is pretty important.

"I just think he has been remarkable. As a captain, I couldn't ask anymore of him with the things he has done on and off the field.

"He tries to look after the players as well as possible, as well as any captain I have ever known, and on the field in the last two seasons he has been fantastic."

Another strong leader on the field is Richard Dunne, although the boss says our defensive giant is a quiet man.

He may not say much but he lets his displays do his talking for him, insists O'Neill.

He added: "He's actually rather quiet. He doesn't seem to say a great deal but when he does speak it's worth listening to.

"He commands great respect in the dressing room for what he has done and achieved in his career and this sort of consistency that he has shown.

"I think all of those things mark him down as pretty exceptional."

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