Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez signed a contract extension on Wednesday to stay with the Premier League club until at least 2014.

The 48-year-old Spanish told the club's website that he was delighted to seal the deal.

"My heart is with Liverpool so I'm delighted to sign this new deal," he said. "I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time."

Benitez arrived from Valencia in 2004 and led Liverpool to win the Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final two years later.

Last week Liverpool reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 5-0 aggregate rout of Real Madrid and on Saturday.

As well as winning the Champions League, Benitez also lifted the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2009)