The Boston Red Sox announced Bobby Valentine as their new manager Thursday night at Fenway Park.

"I'm very confident we've found the right person in Bobby Valentine," GM Ben Cherington said.

Valentine becomes the franchise's 45th manager, and Cherington said he's a great fit as "a native New Englander" with "over 40 years in the game."

"I'm honored, I'm humbled, and I'm pretty damn excited," Valentine said.

"I understand how difficult this was for the organization because of the outstanding candidates involved in this process."

Cherington thanked the other five candidates who were brought in for interviews: Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin, Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Toronto Blue Jays first-base coach Torey Lovullo, new Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum, and Detroit Tigers third-base coach Gene Lamont, who was the other finalist along with Valentine.

Cherington said Valentine embodied all the key attributes he wanted in a manager -- the ability to care about players while also being able to have difficult conversations with them, a strong voice who's not afraid to disagree with the front office, a passion for winning -- while praising his "enormous baseball intellect."

For his part, Valentine said he was ready to go to work in Boston.

"I understand the rich tradition of baseball in this city, of sports in this community," he said.

"I understand the great talent that has been assembled here."

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