Fonte wants to end career at Southampton

Speaking after signing a new three-year contract, Saints defender Jose Fonte has said that he would be very happy at being able to finish his career at the club.

The 31-year-old will be 34-years-old by the time his new contract expires and if the time comes; he would love to retire at the club that he has devoted almost six years of his career to so far.

Fonte did however say that retirement is not quite on his mind just yet and that the fans can still enjoy seeing their captain out on the pitch for the foreseeable future at least.

The new contract would take him into his ninth season in a Saints shirt and he could yet extend that and go on even further if possible, which would further extend his legendary status among the Saints faithful.

Speaking about finishing his career at Southampton, Fonte said this:

I still had another two years [in contract] – this one and another one – but the club just wanted to secure me, I think, and make this almost the last club in my career.

I am extremely happy if I finish here – I would be over the moon. This is where I feel comfortable and where I feel at home.

We’ve been together for such a long time and, if it happened, then I would be going out of the game really, really happy.

But I don’t really look at the end of my career yet.

I feel great and I feel at the best of my ability. I take care of my body and I am professional.

There are great examples of players with great longevity – you see Ryan Giggs playing until he is 41 and then the likes of [Paolo] Maldini and [Javier] Zanetti.

That shows that, if you take care of yourself and live the right life, you can prolong your career further. That’s what I’m going to try and do – to try to be the best I can be and to improve every year.

Once this contract is finished, we will evaluate and see where I am physically and emotionally and take it from there. If I finish here then it will be with great joy – but I’m not looking to finish yet.