OAKLAND, CALIF. ? Art Howe hasn’t enjoyed this much job security since his first season managing the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s exercised their 2003 option Thursday on Howe, who has led Oakland to back-to-back playoff appearances.

With a move called “just a formality” by general manager Billy Beane, Oakland added another year to its commitment to Howe, the A’s manager since 1996. Back then, Howe had a two-year contract with a one-year option and he’s been working year to year ever since.

“I’m very happy that the ownership here feels I’m the guy that’s going to keep leading this team,” Howe said. “My family and I love the Bay area, and it’s nice to know we’ll still be around here. … They didn’t have to pick it up until after the season, so management is making a good statement.”

Howe has skippered the A’s into a spot among baseball’s elite teams while allowing his young players to grow in a freewheeling clubhouse. Howe also has thrived despite a relationship with Beane that sometimes seemed testy.

But Howe and Beane quietly worked on finalizing the extension in recent weeks, never worrying about the pressure of reaching a deal before the end of the season. Neither side talked about a commitment longer than two seasons, however.

“We’re pleased with the start of the season, especially with the injuries we’ve faced, but that’s not why this was done now,” Beane said. “Given that we’re in a difficult part of the schedule with a road trip coming up, we thought this was a good time to make this announcement.”

The A’s won the AL West title in 2000 and were the wild card last season after winning 102 games during the regular season. Both times, they lost 3-2 to the New York Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.

Howe has a 509-484 record with the A’s after Thursday’s 6-2 win over the Yankees. He is the third-winningest manager in Athletics history, behind Connie Mack’s 3,627 victories and Tony La Russa’s 798 the only other managers to lead the A’s for more than four seasons.

“Since I’ve been the general manager, we’ve shown improvement every year,” said Beane, who took over from in 1998 from Sandy Alderson, who hired Howe. “That’s what you look for.”

Howe managed the Houston Astros from 1989-93, and he still lives in Texas in the offseason. His career record is 901-902, making him the sixth-winningest active manager.