Who is Terry Francona? Everything you need to know about the new Reds skipper and 3x Manager of the Year

On October 4, the Cincinnati Reds announced that they would be bringing on Terry Francona as their new manager. A veteran skipper, Francona was largely thought to be in retirement before the announcement was made.

Rumors about a potential deal between the Reds and Francona began circulating on social media on Thursday before the team's confirmation on Friday that the 65-year-old had been given a three-year deal. For Francona, the Reds will represent his fourth team managed in 23 seasons.

"Tito is back! Terry Francona has signed a 3-year contract with the @Reds through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028." - MLB

Born in South Dakota, "Tito" Francona made his MLB debut in 1981 for the Montreal Expos. A first baseman and outfielder, Francona would play a decade in MLB, eventually retiring after spending part of the 1990 season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 1997, Francona was hired as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, where he managed until 2000. In 2004, he was hired to be manager of the Boston Red Sox. That season, Francona would lead Boston to their first World Series title in 86 seasons before doing it again three seasons later.

"This is a tear-jerker. Terry Francona did not want a retirement tour because he’s always been about everybody else. He is selfless. A dream of a players coach. Good to see this ovation for the best Cleveland baseball manager of all time." - John Fanta

In 2013, Francona was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians. Tito would remain in Cleveland for a decade, winning three AL Manager of the Year awards before eventually parting ways with the team in 2023.

In his last home game as manager of Cleveland in September 2023, Francona was given a standing ovation. Now, fans will find him back in Ohio, albeit working for an inter-league cross state rival.

Terry Francona shirked retirement term in last MLB departure

In 1987, Terry Francona played 102 games for the Reds. Now, nearly four decades later, he is back to manage the club. Following his departure from the Guardians last season, Francona implied he was slowing down, but stopped short of using the "r" word, telling the New York Post:

“I never was real concerned about the word retire, I guess when you say retire, it’s like, well, you’re going home and not doing anything. Don’t feel that way either. We’ll figure something out that makes sense.”

Back at the helm of an ailing franchise, it's time for Tito to once again show the impact he can have on a clubhouse.