Arsene Wenger has extended his contract at English champions Arsenal for another three years to the end of the 2007/08 season.
That includes the first two years at the £350-million, 60 000-seat Emirates Stadium, which is due to open in August 2006.
”My intention has always been clear. I love this club and am very happy here — signing a new contract just rubber-stamps my desire to take this club forward and fulfil my ambitions,” Wenger said.
”I still have so much to achieve and my target is to drive this club on, not only by sustaining our recent success but building upon it. These are exciting times for Arsenal and I’m proud to be the manager.”
Arsenal have been at Highbury since 1913 but the club’s ability to compete financially with rivals like Manchester United has been hampered by its relatively small capacity of 38 500.
Wenger, who resisted an approach by Real Madrid in the summer, has been at Arsenal for eight years during which time Arsenal have won two domestic doubles and gone an entire league season unbeaten.
Manchester United ended their 49-match unbeaten run in a controversial 2-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Wenger’s current contract runs out in 2005.
In seven full seasons, he has guided the club to six major trophies — three FA Premier League titles and three FA Cups — and has never finished outside the top two positions in the Premier League.
Wenger has also been named manager of the year three times, including in 2004 when the Gunners were crowned Premier League champions without losing a single game during the 38-match campaign.
Chairperson Peter Hill-Wood said: ”We are absolutely delighted that Arsene has signed an extension to his contract. Since his arrival in 1996, he has revolutionised the club both on and off the pitch.
”As well as the six major honours he’s won during his time here, Arsene has been a leading influence behind all the major initiatives at the club, including the construction of our new training centre and also our new stadium.
”The club has continued to reap the benefits of Arsene’s natural eye for unearthing footballing talent and we currently have a fantastic crop of young players coming through the ranks together with a number of world-class players who are playing a wonderful brand of football.” — Sapa-AFP