Derek Rae
Encyclopedia
Derek Rae is a Scottish
football
announcer for ESPN
, working as a sports commentator
for its coverage of the UEFA Champions League
and Scottish Premier League
. He is also the host of ESPNsoccernet
's PressPass
.
to call a match between rivals
England
and Scotland
. The BBC liked what they heard and hired Rae as its Scotland soccer correspondent, a job he held for five years. Rae was the 1987 British Sports Broadcaster of the Year.
Rae moved to the United States in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. He was a press officer with FIFA during the '94 World Cup, overseeing the World Cup games that were held at Foxboro Stadium
. Rae met his wife Beth Powers while working on World Cup preparations and the two would later settle in Beverly, Massachusetts
.
Rae called Major League Soccer
games for the New England Revolution
from 1996–1999 and again in 2001, for the Metrostars
in 2000 and the Los Angeles Galaxy
in 1996. However, with his extensive background in high-level international soccer, Rae proved a poor fit for MLS games.
Following the World Cup, Rae joined ESPN International
, lending his voice to Eredivisie
and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
games. His role has expanded to calling more than 150 games a year for ESPN International and hosting a weekly studio-based soccer discussion show, ESPNsoccernet PressPass
. He also writes a column called "Rae's Say" for ESPNsoccernet.
Most of the games Rae broadcasts are done in ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut
, using a foreign video feed. Rae is fluent in German and dabbles in several other languages. He is so particular about pronouncing a player's name correctly that he has been known to call consulates to confirm the pronunciation.
As of August 2009, Rae will split his time between the States and Scotland after being hired as lead commentator for Scottish Premier League
matches on the recently launched UK version
of ESPN
.
In June 2010 he was in South Africa to commentate on 12 matches at the FIFA World Cup finals for ESPN USA partnered by Robbie Mustoe
and Ally McCoist
. In the summer of 2010 it was announced that Rae would be making the move back to the UK to continue commentating on a wider basis for ESPN's London based channel.
and still supports the club Hessen Kassel
from his student exchange days in Germany.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
announcer for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, working as a sports commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for its coverage of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. He is also the host of ESPNsoccernet
ESPNsoccernet
ESPN Soccernet is a website that provides comprehensive coverage of world football . Complete football information includes scores, statistics, and features of worldwide football.-History:...
's PressPass
PressPass
ESPNsoccernet PressPass is a 30 minute show which airs Monday to Friday and is a soccer discussion show between presenters Adrian Healey, Dan Thomas, Andrew Orsatti and analysts including Robbie Mustoe, Gabriele Marcotti, Tommy Smyth, Janusz Michallik, Shaka Hislop, Robbie Earle, Steve Nicol,...
.
Career
Rae grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland, attending matches with a tape recorder to work on his commentary. He began his professional broadcasting career at age 15, calling games for a radio station that broadcast to local hospitals. He got his big break at the age of 19, when his broadcasting idol, David Francey, suffered a knee injury and Rae filled in on the radio call of a Scottish Premier Division game. Rae was then hired by BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
to call a match between rivals
England and Scotland football rivalry
The England–Scotland football rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between their respective national football teams. It is the oldest international fixture in the world, first played in 1872 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow...
England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. The BBC liked what they heard and hired Rae as its Scotland soccer correspondent, a job he held for five years. Rae was the 1987 British Sports Broadcaster of the Year.
Rae moved to the United States in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. He was a press officer with FIFA during the '94 World Cup, overseeing the World Cup games that were held at Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
. Rae met his wife Beth Powers while working on World Cup preparations and the two would later settle in Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
.
Rae called Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
games for the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
from 1996–1999 and again in 2001, for the Metrostars
Red Bull New York
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The team competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in 2000 and the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in 1996. However, with his extensive background in high-level international soccer, Rae proved a poor fit for MLS games.
Following the World Cup, Rae joined ESPN International
ESPN International
ESPN International is a family of networks around the world. It was begun in 1989 and is operated by ESPN. It consists of:Asia: *ESPN SEA*ESPN SEA 2*ESPN China*ESPN Hong Kong*ESPN India*ESPN Malaysia...
, lending his voice to Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
games. His role has expanded to calling more than 150 games a year for ESPN International and hosting a weekly studio-based soccer discussion show, ESPNsoccernet PressPass
PressPass
ESPNsoccernet PressPass is a 30 minute show which airs Monday to Friday and is a soccer discussion show between presenters Adrian Healey, Dan Thomas, Andrew Orsatti and analysts including Robbie Mustoe, Gabriele Marcotti, Tommy Smyth, Janusz Michallik, Shaka Hislop, Robbie Earle, Steve Nicol,...
. He also writes a column called "Rae's Say" for ESPNsoccernet.
Most of the games Rae broadcasts are done in ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
, using a foreign video feed. Rae is fluent in German and dabbles in several other languages. He is so particular about pronouncing a player's name correctly that he has been known to call consulates to confirm the pronunciation.
As of August 2009, Rae will split his time between the States and Scotland after being hired as lead commentator for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
matches on the recently launched UK version
ESPN (UK)
ESPN is a sports television channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland owned by American sports broadcaster ESPN Inc. The channel launched on 3 August 2009...
of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
In June 2010 he was in South Africa to commentate on 12 matches at the FIFA World Cup finals for ESPN USA partnered by Robbie Mustoe
Robbie Mustoe
Robin "Robbie" Mustoe is a retired English footballer who now works as a commentator for ESPN. He made nearly 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League, playing as a midfielder for Oxford United, Middlesbrough, where he spent the majority of his career, Charlton Athletic and...
and Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE ; 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Rangers in Scotland....
. In the summer of 2010 it was announced that Rae would be making the move back to the UK to continue commentating on a wider basis for ESPN's London based channel.
Tidbits
Rae speaks fluent GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and still supports the club Hessen Kassel
KSV Hessen Kassel
KSV Hessen Kassel is a German association football club based in Kassel, Hesse. The club was founded as FC Union 93 Kassel in 1893 and just two years later joined FC Hassia 93 Cassel to form Casseler FV 95...
from his student exchange days in Germany.