Steve Cherundolo piece

If anyone ever needs a poster boy for the "steady as she goes" attitude to races, please look no further than the unofficial mayor of Hannover, US defender Steve Cherundolo.

While some stateside observers began politely presuming the right back would fade from view during the 2014 World Cup cycle, the 33-year-old still holds down right back for the national team more than halfway down the path to Brazil.

Cherundolo is also captain at Hannover 96, the club he joined out of the University of Portland more than 13 years ago. It took a few seasons for the club to break back into the Bundesliga and several scrapes with the drop zone followed, but their measured climb now has the American skippering a Reds side enjoying the pressure of raised expectations.

"It's great to be able to play these types of games toward the end of my career," Cherundolo told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Tuesday from Germany. "It's much more fun to play in the upper half of the table, and certainly to play in Europa Leagues. It's a great change of pace compared to a relegation battle every year."

CHERUNDOLO INKS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH HANNOVER

The Mayor of Hannover isn’t going anywhere.

A day before Hannover 96′s final game of the season against Fortuna Dusseldorf, right back Steve Cherundolo signed a one-year extension with the club through 2014. The American international, who holds 87 caps, broke the record this season for all-time appearances in the Bundesliga with the club, now sitting at 299 matches.