Gary Rowett has signed a new three and half-year deal at Derby County to keep him at the club until 2021, according the official website.
Rowett has been subject to intense speculation over the vacant Stoke City job following the sacking of Mark Hughes last weekend.
The 43-year old has guided the Rams to second place in the Championship after 26 league games. Rowett has built a squad with a wealth of Championship experience, leaving the club well set to maintain their promotion push over the second half of the season.
According the official site, the club began discussions with Rowett in early December following the clubs on the field improvements this season. Since his appointment in March 2017, he has won 19 of his 38 matches in charge.
Rowett began his managerial career at Burton Albion. During his time with the Brewers he won 63 of 142 games. In his first season at the Pirelli Stadium he guided the club to a fourth place finish, eventually losing 1-0 to Fleetwood Town in the play off final.
In October 2014 he left the club to join Birmingham City, with Burton 3rd in League Two. Rowett won 42 of 106 games in charge of the Blues, taking the club from a side threatened by relegation to a consistent top half team on a very limited budget.
In December 2016 Rowett was controversially sacked from his role as manager of Birmingham, leaving the club 7th in the Championship table. He has since gone on to highlight his managerial talent with Derby and the Rams fans are undoubtedly delighted with the news he has agreed to stay on:
Absolutely buzzing Gary has signed that new contract, now lets get promoted 🐑🐑 #dcfc #dcfcfans
— Ash (@elwell_ashley) January 9, 2018
Delighted with the new contract for Rowett. Well deserved and should end the uncertainty. Now let's finish the job! #dcfc #coyr 🐏
— Paul Wright (@WrightStuff86) January 9, 2018
Couldn't be happier at this incredible news. Sends a message to any Premier League team that come sniffing, this is a huge statement that could potentially land us in the promise land🙏🙏
Gary Rowett, take us to the level McClaren and Clement couldn't take us to #dcfc #dcfcfans
— MR SUPERPIDGE (@superpidge) January 9, 2018
Bet a certain Schteve wish he had done this when Newcastle were sniffing around
Well done #dcfc and congrats GaryFull deserved
Now let’s get outta this league— Grant Sutcliffe (@GrantSutcliffe) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/ethdog1/status/950794082464485376
Well done all involved. Great news. Now let’s get promotion.
— Dan (@_D_A_N__) January 9, 2018