Stiliyan Petrov has revealed assurances Aston Villa are intending to build on this season's success convinced him to sign a new four-year contract.
The Bulgarian midfielder has put pen to paper on a new deal which will keep him at the Midlands club until the summer of 2013.
"When we started talking, the club assured me it was looking to build and become even more successful. That was enough for me," he said.
Petrov, who had 13 months left of his previous deal, has played a leading part in helping Villa secure an automatic European spot for the first time in 11 years.
He added: "I am delighted. It feels great to have sorted it all out. We've been talking about the contract for quite a few months and I've had a lot of people asking me about it.
"But I am really happy with the way the club handled it all. They left me to concentrate on the games and focus my mind on playing football.
"After a few meetings, everything has now been finalised and, in all honesty, I never had any doubts about it."
Petrov will be 33 when the new deal expires and is confident he has made the right decision to remain with Martin O'Neill's side.
He said: "It was a massive decision for me and my family because it's the stage in my career when I needed to consider everything. But I am sure I made the right decision. I am hoping to make the Villa fans very happy in the years to come.
"I had a difficult period when I came here initially but have been able to show what I am capable of this season."
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I will stand corrected, but i think as Everton are qualifiers for Europa League through reaching the FA Cup final (Chelsea are in the Champs League) and therefore qualification via the FA Cup means they only play one qualifying round the end of August.
There is then one further place on offer in the Europa League for a team to enter the tournament the end of August, (whoever is 5th in the Premiership or behind Everton if they finish 5th)... which will be Villa. The next team Spurs or Fulham will have to play a further qualifying round end of July.... similar to Intertoto.
Still too many games to play like the UEFA Cup!
tuscanvilla, are you assuming that your club will end up losing the 6th place as well? I believe whoever finishes 6th ends up playing the 1st leg of the europa league on 30July... All said and done, the EPL will still be a a competition of the Big 4 though hopefully Vill or Everton (or anyone else) will bridge the gap closer....
You did the right thing. Villa will be stronger (because we are a buying club and we have more spectacular youth coming through), fitter because we won't start in July and have a proper pre-season, more mature as players like Young, Agbonlahor, Milner, Gardner et al, will all develop further and I think the competition from the existing top 4 will be weaker ( MU without Tevez, Giggs, Rinaldo and I hear rumours in Italy about Vidic?, Have Liverpool had their chance at the title? - will their owners invest further in a side that has won niente? Chelsea is Abramowich bored? - now we see the rise of Eastern European club football will he be tempted to invest at home? Arsenal should be stronger
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