New Zealand full-back Storm Roux has extended his contract at Central Coast Mariners until the end of the 2018-19 A-League season.
The Mariners announced on Wednesday that Roux has committed to another two seasons with the club, which would make it six straight campaigns with Central Coast for the Kiwi international.
Storm Roux, Central Coast Mariners
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In December, Goal reported Roux, 24, was attracting the attentions of Perth Glory for next season as his first professional club will need a new right-back to replace Josh Risdon, who is set to depart nib Stadium at the end of 2016-17.
But instead Roux has decided to stay with Central Coast, citing coach Paul Okon - who is in his first season with the Mariners - as a key drawcard.
"Paolo has come in this season and given our team direction and he's a coach that I want to play for," the defender said.
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"Paolo will have a full pre-season under his belt [next season], bring in the players he wants and we will compete.
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Paul Okon, Central Coast Mariners
"All the boys in this team feel as though we are building towards something, Paolo is a great coach with a great history as a player so he's certainly taught me a lot as a player this season."
Roux wants to help the Mariners back into the A-League finals in 2017-18 after playing in a semi-final in his first season wearing yellow and navy.
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"To be able to extend my contract here at the Mariners means a lot. This club gave me my chance in professional football at 20 years old and I was thrown right into the starting team, which was massive for me," he said.
"For the past four years, I've played a lot of games for this club and to captain a couple of games for the Mariners when 'Monty' [captain Nick Montgomery] has been out is a huge honour – this is very special and I just want to see this club get back to where it should be, which is fighting for a top-six finish.
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"I think I took the first season for granted and thought that every season would be like that – then obviously we haven't had it since and I'm desperate to get back to finals football, I miss it a lot and it's something I want to be a part of next season."
The South Africa-born full-back has played 84 A-League games for the Mariners over four seasons including 22 this term.
