BERLIN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Domenico Tedesco and Schalke agreed on contract extension ahead of schedule, the "Royal Blues" confirmed in an official statement on Sunday.

The 32-year-old coach penned a new contract and will stay with Schalke until June 2022. His former contract was stipulated until summer 2019.

"Continuity is an important basis for the goals we have set for Schalke in the coming years. Especially on the position of the head coach, who is the most important man in a football club," Schalke's sporting director Christian Heidel said.

Tedesco took the reins at Schalke at the beginning of the Bundesliga season 2017-2018. He led the "Knappen" to the 2nd place of the standings and reached the semi-finals in the German Cup.

"I have always said that I feel very comfortable at Schalke. I really enjoy working with our team because they are always ready to take the necessary steps so that we can continue our athletic development," Tedesco said via the club's official homepage.

Schalke will travel to Wolfsburg for their season opener on August 25.