Former White Sox and Miami Marlins' manager Ozzie Guillen calls his subsequent move to the Marlins “a big mistake,” but maintains he’s more than ready for his next opportunity.
“I’d like to be back in the game,” Guiilen told ESPN, also adding that he’s open to any base coaching opportunities as well. Fired by the Marlins last October after spending eight seasons with the Sox, including 2005, when the team won the World Series, Guillen also admitted he isn’t totally opposed to Chicago reunion.
“For me to say ‘I really want to manage the Cubs,’ that’s kind of like unprofessional,” Guillen told the “The Waddle & Silvy Show” when asked if he might be interested in taking over the struggling team. “I know Dale Sveum (Cubs manager) very well. He was my teammate. But you know me… there are 28 teams out there. If they need a manager, I’m available.”
Guillen, who also played 13 seasons with the Sox as the team’s shortstop and, even held out the possibility of returning to the team where it all began. “I don’t have anything against the White Sox,” he said. “Jerry Reinsdorf (team owner) was like a father to me… he raised me and gave me opportunities in many different things. He gave the opportunities to be a player, be a manager. I have nothing against Jerry.”
Guillen doesn’t look back on his time in Florida quite so fondly. He was fired at the end of last season after the Marlins finished 69-93 and in last place in the National League East.
“I was naïve about the situation,” he said of his stint in Florida. “It was a confusing situation.”
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