Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer has committed to the side for another two seasons.
The All Whites midfielder, who first joined the Nix as a 17-year-old, is the fourth-most capped player in the club's history, having played 189 A-League matches.
Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre said he was "absolutely delighted" Rufer has extended his stay in the capital.
"Alex is a massive part of this football club," Greenacre said. "Statistically he's been amongst the best midfielders in the A-League for the past few seasons.
"He’s so comfortable on the ball, he’s got great energy to get around the pitch and his fitness levels leading into the World Cup were some of the highest numbers he's ever produced.
"I had a number of conversations with Alex and really put my heart on the line because I really wanted him to be part of this new era for the Phoenix.
"So I'm really, really happy that he’s extended his contract," Greenacre said.
The 30-year-old said he was happy to stay at the club he has been at for 13 years.
"Wellington is definitely the best place for me and my family at the moment," Rufer said. "I've been here for a very long time, so there’s a lot of feeling and emotion that I have for this club.
"Now being a father and having a young family being at home was very, very important for us.
"We’ve had some good conversations about the club moving forward and how he [Greenacre] wants us to play, and I feel like it’s my first season again. That’s exciting and I can’t wait to get started."
After two seasons where the club has underperformed, Rufer said he wanted to be a part of the turnaround.
"The most important people at this club are the fans and we need to give them something to look forward to every week.
"We’ll be doing our best to make sure every week they see an enjoyable brand of football and a team that is willing to die for each other out on the field."
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