Chelsea Football Club has confirmed today that Branislav Ivanovic has signed a new one-year contract that will extend his stay to the summer of 2017.
Accustomed Serbian extends spell in England
The defender, 31, was made vice-captain at the beginning of this season but has been critcized by various pundits and fans alike for his poor form this season for the defending Premier League champions.
It remains the worst start for a defending Premier League champion, with the Blues currently 14th and getting ready for a London derby against bitter rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Ivanovic to continue successful Chelsea career
Since arriving at Stamford Bridge in January 2008, Ivanovic has won every major club honour, including the UEFA Champions League, and two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup, as well as heading the winner in the 2013 UEFA Europa League final.
As a Serbian international now in his tenth year, he played 83 matches for his nation and has scored 10 goals as the captain of the national team.
In his interview on the club's website, he stated that he is "very happy to stay with Chelsea for another season" and called Chelisea his home "after eight years."
The defender declared: "There is no other place I would rather play football" and talked about the success he has had since joining Chelsea, adding that he's "determined to help the team achieve more in the last months of this season and next year as well.’'
Ivanovic made his debut in September 2008, famously scoring his first goals away at Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final the same season.
In total he has made 341 appearances, finding the net 32 times. He is a part of a small group of famous Serbians to have won the Barclays Premier League such as teammate Nemanja Matić, Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov and former Manchester United player Nemanja Vidic.