Stephen McManus has signed a new four-year contract and been named captain of Scottish champions Celtic.

The 24-year-old defender inherits the armband from Neil Lennon, who signed for Nottingham Forest after leaving Parkhead at the end of last season.

McManus was widely tipped for the permanent captaincy of the club after acting as Lennon's understudy last season, helping Celtic to a domestic double.

Manager Gordon Strachan has now moved to end any uncertainty over the position with the start of the new Scottish Premier League campaign just days away.

"To be given the captaincy of Celtic is a tremendous honour and it is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career so far," McManus said today. "I'm proud to follow in the footsteps of so many great Celtic captains from the past and I hope that I will be able to achieve as much success as they have over the years."

Having also gained international recognition with Scotland, Celtic have rewarded their new captain with an improved contract worth a reported £16,000 a week.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have signed this new deal at Celtic," McManus told www.celticfc.net. "I've come through the ranks here at the club and I am proud to have played a part in the success we've had these past few seasons.

"Hopefully that will continue in the years to come, both in Scotland and in European competition as well."