Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has signed a contract extension with the club running until 2009.
McClaren, who also acts as assistant to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, has been linked with taking over the national team.
But he said: “The club going is places so it was never even a question of whether or not I wanted to stay.”
McClaren led Middlesbrough to their first trophy when they won the Carling Cup in 2004 and he also guided them to their highest Premiership when they finished seventh last season.
“In my mind, there was never any doubt about the new deal,” said McClaren.
“It has been as good as done for a long time now but people kept asking me whether I had signed and I’ve done that now.
“What the contract extension means is I can now concentrate fully on continuing to build on what we’ve done and take Boro forward over the next few years.”
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