"I am extremely pleased to have Joe in our organization and I look forward to his input as we start focusing on next year," owner Jeffrey Loria said in a statement. "Joe was known as an intelligent player with great leadership skills, and he will bring those traits to his new position. He is the right man to lead our team, and I'm proud that he will start what will be a long, successful managerial career here in South Florida."

Girardi, who has agreed to a three-year contract with the Marlins, will be formally introduced on Thursday at an 11 a.m. ET news conference.

Girardi joins the Marlins after finishing his first year in the coaching ranks, having served as the Yankees' bench coach.

"This is an exciting day for the Marlins organization," said general manager Larry Beinfest in a statement. "After several discussions with him, it became clear that not only was Joe ready to manage, but he is the right guy to manage the Florida Marlins. Joe has a tremendous reputation throughout the game, and I am eager to start working with him."

At 41, Girardi will be one of the youngest managers in the Major Leagues. Showing that the team is moving in another direction, the Marlins went with a more youthful skipper after having the oldest in the game over the past three seasons.

Jack McKeon, 74, retired on Oct. 2 after completing an 83-79 season, but is remaining with the organization as an adviser to Loria.

In addition to the Marlins, Girardi was a candidate for Tampa Bay's managing vacancy. The Devil Rays, however, have said that they will fill their position after the World Series.

Negotiations between the Marlins and Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell, intensified early on Wednesday. By early afternoon, word had leaked that Girardi had accepted the Marlins' offer.

Since McKeon stepped down, Girardi emerged as a leading candidate, and a favorite of Loria's. At least twice, Girardi had face-to-face interviews with the team's owner.

The Marlins interviewed a number of candidates, including Fredi Gonzalez of the Braves, Ron Washington of the A's, Tom Foley and Billy Hatcher of the Devil Rays, and Bryan Price, who has accepted the position of Diamondbacks pitching coach.

Girardi, Gonzalez and Washington were the top choices, but the only time Gonzalez spoke with the Marlins was on Oct. 11, when he interviewed with team officials in New York.

From his home in Georgia, Gonzalez said that he got a call from the Marlins at about 1:30 p.m. ET, and learned that the team was going in another direction.

Word that Girardi was taking the job spread fast, as reporters who cover the Yankees were informed by their sources that New York's bench coach was moving on.

During his 15-year Major League career, Girardi batted .267 with 36 homers and 402 RBIs. He played on three World Series championship teams with the Yankees, and is credited with helping Jorge Posada emerge as an elite catcher.

In 2000, as a member of the Cubs, he was a National League All-Star.

One of Girardi's first orders of business will be to assemble a coaching staff. Expected to return from the 2005 staff is infield/first-base coach Perry Hill. Pitching coach Mark Wiley is likely to meet with Girardi, and indications are that he will return for his second season with the Marlins.

Wiley was instrumental in the fine season turned in by Dontrelle Willis, a Cy Young Award candidate after leading the Major Leagues with 22 wins. This week, Willis was named the winner of the Warren Spahn Award, presented to the top left-handed pitcher in the league. Josh Beckett also is coming off a career-best season, going 15-8.

Though Wiley and Girardi never played for the same team, their paths crossed frequently in the American League. In the mid-1990s, when Girardi was catching for the Yankees, Wiley was the pitching coach of the Indians. Those teams developed a bit of a rivalry, meeting a few times in the postseason.

According to reports, Girardi is considering hiring Andres Galarraga as the team's hitting coach. Don Zimmer, the bench coach of the Devil Rays, is regarded as a favorite to take on the same position with the Marlins.