Jardim extends deal with Monaco for four more years

Ligue 1 club Monaco announced Tuesday that head coach Leonardo Jardim has extended his contract with the top-flight soccer league's runners-up until 30 June 2019.

The 40-year-old Portuguese was appointed to the post last summer on a two-year deal after leaving Sporting Lisbon.

"Since arriving in the Principality, the Portuguese coach has demonstrated the quality of his work, his efficiency and his ambition to develop the club's project," read a statement on the club's website.

"By securing Leonardo Jardim's services as coach until 2019, AS Monaco is demonstrating its commitment to stability, focusing on continued progress and achieving its ambitions for the future," it added.

Monaco sit now on the third in Ligue 1 standings with just two rounds left in the 2014-2015 campaign, trailing 12 points to the leaders and holders Paris Saint-Germain and 6 points behind second- placed Lyon.

"It is a sign of confidence from the club, the board, to sign this extension," Jardim told the website. "We have worked hard this season to put in place a new project and I am convinced that the best is to come."

"There are a lot of quality youngsters in this team, we need to build on what we have shown this season. The club is ambitious and so am I," he added.

"It is an important step for our club because we wish to build over the long-term with Leonardo Jardim," said Monaco vice- president Vadim Vasilyev. "With his staff, he has done a remarkable job this season, obtaining very good results in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League."

Monaco came out the surprising quarterfinalists of the UEFA Champions League by ousting English Premierships' Arsenal but lost 1-0 on aggregate to Juventus in last eight matchups. Endite