Mark Rudan is confident young midfielder Alex Rufer can take his game to even greater heights after the 22-year-old extended his deal with Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday.
Rufer, who has been a mainstay of Rudan's impressive Phoenix side this season, has signed a one-year extension which keeps him at Westpac Stadium until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season.
The Kiwi international has played 19 of the 20 matches so far this campaign and has struck up an impressive partnership with Spanish import Mandi in the middle of the park.
"Considering he is only 22, he plays with such composure and intelligence, but I still believe he can go further," Rudan told Wellington's official website.
"I knew he had the potential, from his previous time at the club and he is another that took control of his future, got his head down and worked hard."
Rufer is the latest player to pledge their future to the club, following on from the re-signing of influential defender Steven Taylor recently, as well as in-form wing-back Louis Fenton.
Always regarded as a supreme talent from the time he began his career at YoungHeart Manawatu, Rufer went on to play in the Central League with Western Suburbs before earning a deal with Wellington Phoenix in 2013.
But it's this season we've seen his most consistent form in the Hyundai A-League, with Rufer paying a lot of the credit to Wellington's new boss.
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"I've always had confidence in my own ability and I’m happy I’ve been able to express that fully this year under Mark [Rudan]," he said.
"He has instilled the confidence I was perhaps lacking in previous seasons and I believe I can now progress even further."
