Backe to coach Finnish national team
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Former New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe has been appointed as coach of Finland, the national federation confirmed..
"We are glad to announce that our new head coach for the men's national team is Hasse Backe," the chairman of the Finnish Football Association Pertti Alaja told reporters, using the dimunitive form for Hans.
Alaja described the 63-year-old Swede, as a "very experienced, international, successful coach." Backe's latest assignment was as coach of the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer in the USA, from 2010-2012.
Prior to that he won the Danish league four times, was Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant coach at Manchester City and coached Austrian team SV Salzburg as well as Greek giants Panathinaikos.
Backe was also assistant coach for the Mexican national team from 2008-2009. Finland's former head coach Mixu Paatelainen was sacked in June after four consecutive defeats in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying matches. Finland are currently second to last in UEFA EURO 2016 Group F.