Panathinaikos dispense with Backe

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ATHENS, Greece -- Swede Hans Backe has been sacked as coach of Panathinaikos a little over a month after taking charge of the Greek side.

He pays the price for a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Ukrainian club in the UEFA Cup first round on Thursday where fans threw broken chairs on to the pitch.

Backe was appointed on a one-year contract in August.

Panathinaikos are in third place in the Greek league with six points from three games.

They announced that assistant coach Jasminko Velic would take over until a new coach was found.

Backe, 54, left Danish club FC Copenhagen last December after coaching the team for four seasons.

He has also coached for Austrias SV Salzburg (2000-2001) and Swedish clubs AIK Solna (1994-1995) and Hammarby IF (1987-1988).

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