Russell takes charge of Pirates

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have appointed former player John Russell as their new manager, the team said on Monday.

He replaces Jim Tracy, who was sacked last month after two seasons of poor results.

General manager Neal Huntington said Russell, who played for the club in the 1980s and was on the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Phillies where he worked with their Triple-A affiliates, said his personality was the key factor in the appointment.

"John is absolutely the best choice," Huntington said in a statement. "His positive energy, intense passion for the game and strong managerial experience set him apart from every other potential candidate we considered."

Russell's job is to help the club avoid a 16th successive losing season.

"It is my responsibility to restore the culture of pride and passion," he said.

"We will not be outworked or out-prepared. We will now assemble a team of coaches who are energetic and enthusiastic."