Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers named former Oakland Athletics skipper Ken Macha manager on Thursday.

The Brewers signed Macha, 58, to a two-year contract, which runs through the 2010 season.

"Today's manager must blend old-school teaching and instructing methods with the new age statistical analysis," said Brewers executive vice president and general manager Doug Melvin. "Ken has been exposed to both styles and has the baseball intelligence to understand that both lead to success. Among many who spoke highly of Ken, we received glowing endorsements from Terry Francona and Joe Maddon about his work ethic and baseball mind. We look forward to having Ken display his talents in Milwaukee."

Macha guided the Athletics to a record of 368-280 with three 90-plus win seasons and a pair of division titles from 2003-06. However, he was fired just two days after the club was swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 American League Championship Series.

The Brewers were in the market for a new manager after Ned Yost was fired with 12 games left in the season and Dale Sveum led the team to the playoffs as the National League wild card. Following a 26-year postseason drought, Milwaukee was eliminated in the Division Series by eventual World Series champion Philadelphia.

Sveum, despite his short run of success as interim manager, was informed earlier this month that he would not be considered for the full-time job.

Melvin also reportedly interviewed former Mets manager Willie Randolph and former Arizona skipper Bob Brenly for the opening.

Macha was among the candidates for the Milwaukee vacancy after the 2002 season, but was then promoted from Oakland's bench coach to manager.