Finland fires national soccer team coach Hans Backe
HELSINKI — The Finnish soccer association says it has fired national team coach Hans Backe following a poor start to World Cup qualifying.
Backe, who has coached the national team since January, will be replaced by Markku Kanerva.
The 52-year-old Kanerva has served in various coaching duties for Finland’s national teams since 2004. The association says Kanerva’s contract is for three years.
Soccer association chairman Pertti Alaja says the Finnish team had been hindered by injuries and bad luck under Backe’s tenure, but that the results “didn’t satisfy anyone.”
Finland has lost nine of its last 11 matches, with two draws.