Newcastle manager Pardew signs 8-year deal

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle manager Alan Pardew signed an eight-year contract with the Premier League club.

The 51-year-old Pardew took over after Chris Hughton was fired in December 2010, signing a five-year deal at a time when expectations were low.

Pardew kept Newcastle in the top division at the end of their first campaign, and then paved the way for a remarkable second season.

Newcastle finished fifth in the league in May to secure a return to European football in the Europa League after an absence of five years.

"Alan has done a fantastic job over the last couple of years and has proved what a great Premier League manager he is," managing director Derek Llambias said. "I have total respect for him in all football matters and have an excellent relationship with him, which I think benefits the club enormously."

Newcastle sees giving Pardew a long-term deal as key to helping the club capture its first domestic trophy since 1955.

"If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success and that is the model we wish to emulate here," Llambias said. "We are looking to build on the success we had last season."

Ferguson has been in charge of United since 1986, while Wenger joined Arsenal a decade later.