Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIPhotos.com
By IVES GALARCEP
When Erik Soler was given the boot as New York Red Bulls general manager earlier this month, it was pretty clear that Hans Backe days as head coach were numbered.
Backe revealed just how little time he has left, telling a Swedish newspaper that he would leave the Red Bulls after the 2012 season.
Currently in the final year of a three-year contract as head coach, told Expressen that he will leave the Red Bulls and return to Sweden in December after the 2012 season.
The news shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Backe’s tenure as Red Bulls head coach has been marked by inconsistency and disappointment despite the fact the team has spent more money on player salaries than any other team in MLS.
The Red Bulls have made the playoffs during Backe’s first two seasons in charge, but lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of those campaigns. The 2012 season has been another up and down campaign, marked by questionable coaching decisions and underachievement. The Red Bulls are currently in fourth place in the East, and have yet to secure a playoff spot with two matches remaining in the regular season.
With Backe’s future settled, the Red Bulls will now go into the off-season looking for a coach, and sources have told SBI that Scottish manager Gary McAllister is a front-runner to take the job. New Red Bulls general manager Jerome De Bontin stated recently that the team’s decision on its coaching position would be determined when the team hired a new technical director.
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is the head of global soccer for Red Bull and will ultimately make the decision on the new coach. That makes McAllister, a Liverpool player and Aston Villa assistant coach for Houllier, a leading candidate for the position.
What do you think of this development? Think Backe’s time has come or do you think the Red Bulls are making a mistake? Who would you like to see take over as Red Bulls head coach?
Share your thoughts below.