Rostov manager Valery Karpin has extended his contract with the club for the next five years, the club announced on Monday. The former Spartak Moscow has been in charge for just over two years, winning 27 of his 67 matches in charge.

Although he failed to win any of his first five Russian Premier League matches in charge, Karpin - whose birthday was on Sunday - steered Rostov clear of relegation. Last season he improved the league finish to ninth, and reached the semi final of the Russian Cup.

This season his side are one point off an automatic Champions League place in third as the RPL’s second-highest goalscorers. Rostov president Artashes Arutyunyants was pleased to tie down his manager to an extended deal.

“Valery Georgievich manages the team well,” he told the club’s press service. “We are like-minded people and will continue to move together. I hope that this five-year contract will one day become both a 10-year and a 15-year contract.

“I see that there is chemistry between the city and Valery Georgievich. He is in love with Rostov-on-don, and Rostov-on-don loves him.”

Karpin’s new deal follows the club also tying down Eldor Shomurodov, Danil Glebov, Matthias Normann and Aleksey Ionov to long-term deals.