(AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals said they will announce the hiring of Mike Matheny as manager during a news conference Monday. Matheny, a former St. Louis catcher will replace the retired Tony La Russa.

Mike Matheny (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

La Russa stepped down after leading the team to the World Series title. The 41-year-old Matheny was a minor league instructor with the Cardinals and has no managing experience. He played for St. Louis from 2000-04 and won three Gold Gloves. He won another with San Francisco. Matheny’s playing career blossomed after he signed a one-year free-agent deal to be the backup catcher in St. Louis. A career .239 hitter Matheny did enough defensively to earn a starting job. Matheny was one of six men the Cardinals interviewed to replace La Russa. They also talked to Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, longtime Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo, former Boston manager Terry Francona, Triple-A manager Chris Maloney, and Chicago White Sox coach Joe McEwing.