Red Bulls cut ties with manager Backe

HARRISON, N.J. (AP)

KNOCKOUT ROUND

See the best shots from Major League Soccer's 2012 Playoffs.

 

The New York Red Bulls cut ties with coach Hans Backe on Friday, saying they won't extend his expiring contract.

A day after they were eliminated from the MLS playoffs, the Red Bulls also hired Andy Roxburgh as sporting director, said Mike Petke will coach the club on an interim basis, and announced that they won't extend assistant coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen's contract.

D.C. United eliminated the Red Bulls on Thursday night, beating New York 1-0 for a 2-1 victory in the two-game, total-goals series. New York tied for third in the Eastern Conference at 16-9-9 in its third season under Backe, the Swede who coached Copenhagen and Aalborg to four Danish titles.

Roxburgh is the former national team manager of Scotland and technical director of the European soccer confederation. He will be responsible for all soccer activities.