Charlie Manuel's days of managing the Phillies are over.

Manuel has been removed as manager and replaced by Ryne Sandberg on an interim basis, the Phillies announced Friday afternoon.

During a news conference, Manuel made it clear that he did not quit and said, 'it's something they wanted to do.'

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. himself made it clear that Manuel was going to be out at the end of the season anyway, so -- with the Phillies struggling so badly -- now was a logical time to give Sandberg his shot.

This ends a tenure of nearly nine full seasons in which Manuel was at the helm for five NL East championships, two National League pennants and one World Series title. He ends said tenure with a regular-season record of 780-636 and a postseason record of 27-19.

Including his three seasons managing the Indians, Manuel has a career record of 1,000-826. In seasons he has managed all 162 games, he has never had a losing record -- the 81-81 mark last season was his worst full season. That likely would have changed this season, as the Phillies sit at 53-67.

Manuel will turn 70 this coming January.

It has long been assumed that Sandberg, the Phillies' third-base coach, would replace Manuel as manager after this season, so the promotion doesn't come as a big surprise.

Sandberg was a Hall of Famer who spent the overwhelming majority .