Manuel Pellegrini has signed a new contract with LaLiga high-flyers Real Betis until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Chilean guided Betis to a sixth-placed finish in his first campaign and they sit third with 18 games of 2021-22 played.
Betis are also through to the play-off knockout round of the Europa League, where Zenit await, and have a Copa del Rey last-32 tie with Real Valladolid to come early in 2022.
Pellegrini was under contract at the Estadio Benito Villamarin until June 2023, but the 68-year-old has been rewarded with an extended deal.
Betis confirmed the news on Tuesday and added in a statement: “The extension of the coach’s contract represents an important step forward in the growth of Real Betis, betting on one of the most prestigious coaches in world football.
“The renewal process has been very fast given the climate of maximum understanding and trust existing between the club and its head coach.”
Pellegrini has taken charge of 69 games in all competitions across his time at Betis, and his 48.2 per cent winning rate in LaLiga is the best of any coach to take charge of more than one match at the club this century.
Betis have won 27 of their 59 LaLiga matches under Pellegrini, a tally bettered only by Barcelona (33 wins), Atletico Madrid (36), Sevilla (38) and Real Madrid (41) since the start of last season.