The Cardinals intend to conduct an aggressive search for Tony La Russa's successor that general manager John Mozeliak hopes to complete within two weeks but believes more likely will extend toward Thanksgiving.

Mozeliak said the club would examine "multiple profiles" for its next manager, a reference to the organization's willingness to consider internal candidates with no prior major-league managerial experience as well as outside candidates thought to include former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

"I wouldn't rule out anything at this point," Mozeliak said.

Mozeliak will head a search committee that will conduct an initial review before including chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. in its secondary phase. DeWitt painted the field with a broad brush Monday, saying anywhere from 5-20 candidates may receive an initial interview.

Francona, dismissed by the Red Sox last month after leading the franchise to World Series championships in 2004 and 2007, is the most obvious free agent managerial candidate. Former Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, who resigned in mid-season, has an extensive background with the Cardinals as a major-league coach and on-field coordinator within the player development system.

The Cardinals are also likely to interview third-base coach Jose Oquendo and bench coach Joe Pettini. Oquendo has interviewed with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets in recent years as well as managed in the Puerto Rican winter league. Oquendo also has led Puerto Rico's entry in the World Baseball Classic.

Pettini, who managed within the Cardinals' minor-league system for eight seasons, ran the parent club this summer during La Russa's weeklong absence while recovering from shingles.

Oquendo's ties to the organization extend to 1986, when he served as a popular utility player who came to be known as "The Secret Weapon." He has served as third-base coach the past 12 seasons.

Neither DeWitt nor Mozeliak ruled out the possibility of approaching another organization about its manager. Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, whose contract with the club expires after next season, represents a popular candidate. La Russa insisted he would not be part of the process but he is known to be an advocate of Los Angeles Dodgers manager and Indiana native Don Mattingly.

Atlanta Braves first base coach Terry Pendleton has long been viewed as a strong managerial candidate but was passed over when the Braves named Fredi Gonzalez as Bobby Cox's successor following the 2010 season.

"In fairness, I think we have to be open-minded and go through the process," Mozeliak said. "It's not something we've done for 16 years, so looking at the potential candidates I think they're going to come in different shapes and sizes. We'll just have to look at what we think best fits the personality of this current club and how to make it work."

Though some, including pitching coach Dave Duncan, have voiced a preference for a candidate with prior major-league managerial experience, Oquendo is perceived as a strong candidate by a number within the organization.

Former Cardinal shortstop David Eckstein on Monday told FoxSports that hiring Oquendo would represent a significant boost to the club's attempt to retain free agent first baseman Pujols.

La Russa's retirement fell on the fourth anniversary of Mozeliak's appointment as general manager. Hiring a successor to the franchise's all-time winningest manager represents a fresh challenge to ownership that has enjoyed three trips to the World Series and a general manager who has overseen relative stability within its field staff during his term.

"Internally, I've told the group it's going to be a daunting couple weeks or month," Mozeliak said. "But I knew this day was going to come. So I do think we're prepared. But it's certainly another layer of complexity to what already existed."

Mozeliak has kept a list of managerial candidates for the past three years, constantly updating it.

Monday's announcement fell within 48 hours of Pujols filing for free agency, thus creating the possible defection of the organization's two most identifiable faces within the same off-season.

"I don't know about an identity crisis," DeWitt said. "But there's no question these will be referred to in my view as the La Russa years. And Albert's certainly been a big part of that. Hopefully we'll have him back, but that's part of being in baseball. No one is at one place forever."

The Cardinals carry a tradition of highly respected managers including Whitey Herzog, who was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July. Joe Torre and La Russa are also considered shoo-ins to be enshrined.

Such lineage creates its own pressure, especially with a clubhouse that includes a powerful veteran presence.

"It's hard to say how they would relate to the particular players on this team," DeWitt said of potential candidates. "But this team itself has great chemistry, so it's not like a new manager has to sort through all of that and try to create a culture here, because the culture is here to win and to be very successful and to make every effort to help your teammates. Tony has instilled that. And we've got the character on the club to maintain it. But we need a good leader, a strong leader."