Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini extends contract

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has signed a new one-year contract extension with the Premier League side.

The Argentine defender, whose new deal runs until summer 2017 and has an option of a further year, will also remain as skipper of the Magpies under new head coach Steve McClaren.

Coloccini had recently been linked with a move to join Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace, but he insisted that he loves it at Newcastle.

"I have been here for seven years and I love this club," Coloccini, 33, told the club website. "I feel part of the family at Newcastle United.

"Headlines and speculation are normal when a player only has one year left on their contract, but the club have shown they want to keep me and that has made me feel very happy and very proud."

Since joining Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna in 2008, Coloccini has made 248 appearances for the Magpies and scored six goals.