Varga makes grade at Celtic
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Article summary
Stanislav Varga has earned an automatic one-year extension to his contract at Celtic FC.
Article body
Stanislav Varga has qualified for an automatic one-year extension to his contract at Celtic FC by playing 30 games for the Glasgow club this season.
Contract guarantee
The Slovakian international defender signed a 12-month deal last July with the assurance that if he represented the Scottish Premier League team in 30 matches it would be extended until June 2005.
Mission accomplished
Varga, 31, now has his extra year guaranteed after playing in the 3-1 defeat of Aberdeen FC on Saturday and manager Martin O'Neill is ready to negotiate an extension in the near future. "It's something we'll look at as Stanislav has done very well this season," the coach said. "Injuries to Johan Mjällby and Joos Valgaeren have given him his chance and he has been exceptional."
European stalwart
The former Sunderland AFC defender played in all six of Celtic's UEFA Champions League games this term. The club face Czech Republic side FK Teplice next month in the third round of the UEFA Cup.