Guillen, who parted ways with Chicago this week after eight seasons, including a World Series title in 2005, takes over for 80-year-old Jack McKeon, who stepped in as interim manager in June after Edwin Rodriguez unexpectedly resigned.
“This a big, big step in my career, a new chapter. It was a great one back in Chicago. Hopefully I can bring energy, flavor, enthusiasm but the most important thing, a winning team,” Guillen, who was a third-base coach with the Marlins in 2003, said at a news conference.
“I am very excited the way they want to go. The only thing I am going to promise you - you’ll see a ball club playing hard, playing the right way. It’s not about Ozzie, it’s about the Miami Marlins.”
The White Sox released the 47-year-old Venezuela-born Guillen on Monday from the final year remaining on his contract, paving the way for his moved to the Marlins.
The tough-talking Guillen will have a key role in what is effectively a re-launch of the Major League Baseball franchise, which will move to a new ballpark in central Miami next season and will be renamed the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins play their final game of the 2011 season at Sun Life Stadium, a shared home with the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins, later on Wednesday against Washington.
