New York ? Willie Randolph was hired Wednesday night by the New York Mets, taking over as manager of a troubled team trying to compete with its crosstown rival for success, free agents and fans.

A six-time All-Star who was a coach with the New York Yankees for the past 11 years, Randolph replaces Art Howe, fired at the end of the season. Randolph will be introduced today at a news conference at Shea Stadium.

Randolph met earlier Wednesday with new general manager Omar Minaya, who also had second interviews with the other finalists, Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and former Houston and Anaheim manager Terry Collins.

Randolph, 50, was a standout second baseman who spent 13 seasons with the Yankees, serving as co-captain and winning Word Series titles as a player in 1977 and 1978, plus four more as a coach. He also played for Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Oakland and Milwaukee before finishing his playing career with the Mets in 1992.

He said last month he had interviewed unsuccessfully in the past for 11 or 12 managerial openings.