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DALLAS (Reuters) - Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington agreed to a two-year contract extension with the team on Thursday after he guided them to their first World Series last month.

"This was a formality as much as anything," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told the team's website (http://texas.rangers.mlb.com). "We're not in the postseason or the World Series without his leadership.

"What he's done in changing the culture, changing the attitude, and changing the expectations, has been enormous.

"He has a passion and a respect for the game and respect for his players. Our guys feed off that. We have a very resilient club and a very successful club and those are attributes that Ron brings every day."

The Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series and then upset the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series before losing the World Series to the San Francisco Giants 4-1 three days ago.

"I want to thank the Texas Rangers for the opportunity to lead the organization for two more years and hopefully further," Washington said.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in San Diego; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)