Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is delighted captain Steven Gerrard has ended speculation about a move to Real Madrid and committed his future to the club.
Gerrard, 30, had been linked with a switch to the Spanish capital after the Reds missed out on Champions League football for next season. After the announcement that former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has agreed a switch to Anfield, Gerrard's decision to stay on has given the ex-Fulham boss another boost.
Speaking to the club's official website while on tour in Switzerland, Hodgson was convinced every Liverpool fan will be rightly delighted with the news from the skipper.
"It's a great piece of news. There won't be anyone in Liverpool today who isn't delighted to hear that," Hodgson said.
"I'm really pleased about it because I've got great respect for Steven Gerrard.
"He's a player who I was really looking forward to working with when I came to Liverpool. It seems now with that commitment that this will happen.
"It gives everyone a boost without question.
"It will be a tough season, with a lot of matches and the disappointment of last season is going to take a while to dissipate, but it is very good that our best player is still going to be playing at this club.
"Hopefully with the signing of Joe Cole - and if we are lucky one or two others, to boost the squad - we will be going into this season's competition, maybe stronger on paper than we were last season."
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