He hasn’t missed out! Mario joins Norwich City’s new-contract crew with 2021 extension
Mario Vrancic takes the plaudits after scoring a stunning goal that went on to confirm Norwich City's Premier League return against Blackburn at Carrow Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City star Mario Vrancic has finally earned his own promotion reward, as the Canaries star became the latest to sign a new deal at Carrow Road.
The 30-year-old scored 10 goals and made nine more as City powered their way to the Championship title - and all off just 14 starts and 22 substitute appearances last term.
And having been out of contract come next summer, the Bosnian international has now signed a new deal that commits him to the Canaries until the summer of 2021.
"I'm obviously very pleased. I've enjoyed myself since day one and I'm really looking forward to the future," Vrancic told City's official web site. "The start to my time here was pretty strange, I wasn't happy with my performances but sometimes it just takes a few weeks, a few months maybe, but I'm very pleased now.
"I felt I did my job pretty well last season and I hope to continue like that this season as well.
Mario Vrancic produced another excellent strike to confirm Norwich City's promotion back to the Premier League. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
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"I'm very, very pleased with my performances recently but the whole team and squad was very successful as well and that's the most important thing.
"It was definitely the best year of my career, especially because of my contribution and performances.
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"I feel like I've grown as a person as well which is really important too."
Vrancic played a pivotal role in City's Championship success during his second season at the club. His stunning free-kick in the seventh minute of injury time to earn a draw from the run-in visit of Sheffield Wednesday is already a classic.
Mario Vrancic leads the celebrations, having scored the goal that sealed Norwich City's Championship title at Villa Park. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
The midfielder then drove a sublime shot into the top corner to seal City's Premier League promotion at Carrow Road against Blackburn, before his low drive at Villa Park eight days later sealed the EFL title.
Vrancic has since been recalled to the Bosnia and Herzegovina set-up for the first time since joining Norwich in the summer of 2017, from Paderborn in a deal reportedly worth around £650,000.
His new deal means out of City's 25-man touring squad to Germany this pre-season, only Dennis Srbeny has not signed a new deal since the last throes of the 2017-18 campaign - while excluding the season loans of Patrick Roberts and Ralf Fahrmann, Alex Tettey is the only member set to be out of contract in 12 months' time.
Vrancic has scored a total of 13 goals in 77 games during his two seasons with Norwich and now gets a shot at playing in the Premier League, having previously made almost 100 appearances in the Bundesliga.
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