Seamus Coleman has been hailed as an Everton great after signing a new contract to extend his stay at the club to 15 years.
The Ireland captain has agreed to a new one-year deal at Goodison Park until the end of June 2024.
Coleman has made some 409 appearances for the Merseyside club since his bargain £60,000 move from Sligo Rovers in January 2009.
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And he was a regular starter for the Toffees when Sean Dyche took over the reins for the second half of last season.
Currently recovering from a medial knee ligament injury, Coleman said: "Everyone knows how much Everton means to me which is why it is special to sign this new contract and continue to play for this great club.
“From the moment I joined more than 14 years ago, the support my family and I have had from our fans and everyone around the Club has been amazing and I never take for granted just how fortunate I am to represent Everton.
That has included the honour of wearing the captain’s armband in recent years.”
He added: “I’m keen to continue helping my teammates in any way I can, while passing on my experience to the younger lads and contributing on the pitch as much as possible.
“We know the past couple of seasons have not been good enough for Everton Football Club. But I can assure our fans that I’ll continue to give everything to put that right and, under the manager and his staff, our players will know what is expected of them for the season ahead.”
The Donegal man is just three matches away from surpassing American goalkeeper Tim Howard (354) as Everton’s record appearances maker in the Premier League.
Everton boss Dyche said of him: "He is a top professional who helps to set high standards every day and makes it clear what it means to play for Everton Football Club.
“His quality and experience continue to be of great use and will do so again once he’s back fit.”
But the most glowing praise came from the club's long-serving chairman Bill Kenwright.
He said: "The number which always follows every conversation about Seamus is 60,000. But his influence on our football club has been truly immeasurable since we completed the bargain of all bargain-buys way back in 2009.
"Seamus is an Evertonian, a leader – but even more importantly, he is a sincere and genuine man. We all look to Seamus to set the best example. And he always does – on and off the pitch.
“One of my favourite ever off-the-pitch moments was when Seamus received one of his many End of Season awards.
“He was asked by host Mark Chapman why he felt he was such a popular player, not only for Evertonians but throughout football. His response was, beautifully, something like, ‘I was brought up well by my Mum and Dad. I learned everything from them. Maybe that’s why’.
“A measure of him to us is that each of Seamus’ last two contracts have been signed when recovering from injury and I am personally delighted he has accepted this latest deal.
“I’ve said it often, Seamus Coleman is one of this Club's greatest heroes in its 145-year history."
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