January 28, 2013
CASTING A CRITICAL EYE
Ex-Red Bulls coach Backe a Swedish TV commentator

Hans Backe will be a TV color commentator in his native Swede. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Coach Hans Backe, who has always has been in a position to be criticized as coach, will be on the other side of the line to casy a critical eye in his native Sweden.

The former Red Bulls coach has decided to become a TV soccer commentator at TV4 in his native Sweden, at least for the time being.

Backe, whose contract was not renewed by the Red Bulls after the team was eliminated in the conference semifinals for the third consecutive year, will make his debut as a studio commentator for Sweden's international friendly against Argentina on Wednesday, Feb. 6, according to fotbollskanalen.se.

The 60-year-old Backe also will work in the studio for World Cup qualiiers, Europa League, UEFA Champions League and for several key matches in French Ligue 1 and Italy's Serie A and eventually a "studio expert" for TV4's coverage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, fotbollskanalen.se reported.

For the Sweden-Argentina game, Backe will work in studio with Anna Brolin and Olof Lundh.

Last week former Red Bulls assistant coach Mike Petke was named to succeed Backe in the Major League Soccer team's head position.