Joe Lewis wants to stay at Aberdeen for the rest of his career.

Theclub captain has a contract until

2024, taking him up to his 36th birthday.

But after more than four years at Pittodrie he’s keen to do a decade at Dons if his body lets him.

Arguably gaffer Derek McInnes’ best-ever signing in 2016, Lewis has been a key to ensuring the Dons remain top-four club in the Premiership.

But more importantly, Lewis and his family are happy in the Granite City.

Before joining the Dons from Cardiff, the Englishman had spells at the likes of Peterborough, Blackpool and Fulham.

But he’s adamant that he has never felt the way he does at Aberdeen anywhere else he has played.

Given his form at Pittodrie over the last few years, the 33-year-old will have had offers to return to England.

And who could have blamed him? After all, he was once picked for England’s full squad after excelling at Under-21 level.

At the right club he could have pushed for an international call-up. Thatwas unlikely to come while at Aberdeen – but Lewis has no regrets. He will have had eight years under McInnes when his current Dons deal expires.

But as long as he’s fit,healthy and happy, the big keeper never wants to leave.

As he prepared to face league leaders Rangers at Pittodrie today, he said: “I’d love to stay for the rest of my career. That’s how I feel at the moment.

“Lots of things change and it’s always difficult to make long-term plans in football. But at the moment I’m happy.

“I enjoy living here and enjoy my football. So ideally, yes, it would be great to stay.

“Thisis a brilliant club. I’ve been at a few in my career, too many really, that aren’t well run and don’t have everyone from top to bottom pulling in the same direction.

“You can see from the outside, and you can feel it as a player, that everyone wants the same for Aberdeen. “There are no agendas. There are no s elfish, ulterior motives. “Everyone just wants the best for the team and to have success on the pitch.

“It feels like a team effort at Aberdeen and that gives you confidence when you know everyone is doing their best for you.

“I haven’t always felt like that at previous clubs, where there has been a lack of cohesion and infighting. “Also, I found my form here after not playing enough football for a spell. I had played at Blackpool on loan but didn’t enjoy it.

“I found a new lease of life at Aberdeen.

“Financially, you can look for more money somewhere else and a lot of players do that.

“I h a v e n o problem w it h peo pl e t r y i n g t o m ak e as much as t he y c an. But there is more to it than t ha t .

“I haven’t spoken to my agent for years now! Well, not meaningfully about going anywhere.

“He realises that I’m settled here. At the end of your career you want to say you have enjoyed playing, not just scraped around trying to make as much money as possible.

“I enjoy being at Aberdeen and while you can’t make big plans for the future, I want it to continue.”

If Lew is continues the way he’s going and signs another extension at Pittodrie, he will be there until his late 30s.

But his opposite number today, Rangers keeper Allan McGregor, is proving that age is no barrier for goalies. At 38, he’s in the form of his life and was outstanding in the Ibrox side’s Old Firm victory last weekend.

Lewis is full of admiration for McGregor a nd believes he’s an inspiration for other goalies.

He said: “A llan has been fantastic and was a huge part of their win last week against Celtic. It’s good to see keepers get the plaudits when you make contributions like that.

“He’ll have been pleased that his saves contributed to a good performance but also with the way he’s playing and the amount of clean sheets Rangers have had as a team.

“Rangers are at top of the league so we need to bring our best game. “Allan’s playing w ith a lot of confidence. He’s a fantastic keeper with a lot of experience.

“At 38, he’s still got agility and that’s something for all goalkeepers to look at. Mid to late 30s can be a keeper’s prime. Personally, I feel like I’m better with more experience.

“At 33, I need to maintain fitness and flexibility, work hard in the gym and not stop for too long.

“Theolder you get, if you have a week of doing nothing, the harder it is to get going again.

“I don’t have many days off.We had a couple of days there where there was optional training and I did a bit at home to keep myself going.

“St ayi n g fit i s my mai n ai m and if you can keep the reactions – and eyesight – the older you get then experience is a big part of keeping.” As w e ll as find ing a pro per home at Pittodrie, Lewis also discovered a manager with complete faith in him.

He has been good for McInnes since joining – but his gaffer has also been great for him.

Lewis said: “When I signed, the manager gave clear directions about what he wanted from me.

“I hadn’ t built a relationship with a manager for a decent amount of time because of the way my career had gone.

“So it was good to have his backing and I felt he h ad confidence in me from day one.

“It was a chance to showcase my skills. I had a good start and won the supporters over, which is always big.

“I got my game going quick ly here and I’ve enjoyed it ever since.”