The Florida Marlins named former Chicago White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen as their new manager on Wednesday, hoping he can kickstart a new era for the struggling Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise.

The tough-talking Guillen, who parted ways with Chicago this week after eight seasons, including a World Series title in 2005, takes over just weeks before the Marlins undergo a rebranding, moving to a new downtown ballpark and changing their name to the Miami Marlins.

"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' World Series winning team in 2003, said at a news conference.

The Marlins moved swiftly to sign Guillen to a four-year deal before their final game of the MLB season on Wednesday at their shared home with the National Football League's Miami Dolphins.

Chicago released the 47-year-old Venezuela-born Guillen on Monday from the final year of his contract, paving the way for his move to South Florida. Guillen takes over for 80-year-old Jack McKeon, who stepped in as interim manager in June.

Reuters