Hisanobu Watanabe will continue at the helm of the Seibu Lions next season after the Pacific League club said late Wednesday it is handing the 44-year-old a new two-year contract carrying an annual salary of ¥70 million.
Senior Lions official Kosuke Maeda said the team and Watanabe reached a final agreement in Sapporo after the Lions' final game of the season against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
In 2008, Watanabe guided Seibu to the Japan Series title as a rookie manager.