DETROIT ? The Detroit Tigers hired former All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell as manager Wednesday, hoping he can turn around a franchise that has endured nine straight losing seasons.

Trammell is the Tigers’ fifth manager in seven years. Detroit was 55-106 last season tying Tampa Bay for the worst mark in the majors and hasn’t had a winning record since 1993, during the latter part of Trammell’s stellar career as a shortstop in Detroit.

“This is a day that I’m very proud of,” Trammell said. “There’s certain areas that I know we can be better on quickly, that’s my goal, that’s my job,” Trammell added.

The 44-year-old Trammell replaces Luis Pujols, who was fired Sept. 30. Pujols lost 100 games after replacing Phil Garner, who was fired in April after an 0-6 start.

Trammell, who becomes Detroit’s fifth manager since Sparky Anderson’s 17-season tenure ended in 1995, was San Diego’s first base coach the past three seasons.

When Trammell’s 20-season career in Detroit ended in 1996 he spent the next two seasons as an assistant in the franchise’s baseball operations department and one season as the Tigers’ hitting coach.

He was fired when Garner was hired following the 1999 season.

“There’s going to be some criticism, there’s going to be skepticism … and I understand that,” said Trammell, who signed a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth season