It has been a year since Aberdonian TV broadcaster, Derek Rae, decided to leave his role as SPFL and Champions League/Bundesliga commentator on BT Sport to return permanently to his former home in the USA. This summer will see Derek take a lead commentating role at the World Cup in Russia for Fox Sports.

Derek was back at Pittodrie last month (before the announcement he would be the new voice for the Champions League and Europa League modes on FIFA 19) while on a flying visit to see family and friends. We caught up with him for RedMatchday Magazine:

Derek, tell us about the move last summer? How did it go?
It was all a bit frantic at the end of last season, getting the accommodation we had been renting in London for 7 years cleared up. But we had never sold our house in the Boston area as we knew that at some point, we would return. I think it was the right decision. So thankfully that part of the equation was fairly smooth. We took a few weeks to do some travelling around Europe, exploring some of the places we had missed out on such as the glorious Norwegian fjords, the Alsace region in France and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. It was a way of properly closing an amazing chapter working in the U.K. and Scotland in particular.

Was it strange when the Betfred Cup started in July and you weren’t doing it?
I was a bit disorientated for a few days. Scottish football had become such an ingrained part of my working life. But as time went on, I realised that I had to move on in my mind and found that it was OK to still pay attention to what was happening in Scotland without being immersed in it as before. That’s more or less the case now.

What were your immediate broadcasting plans when you went back to Boston?
To be honest, I didn’t have too many things nailed down. I knew I would continue travelling to Germany every few weeks to commentate on the Bundesliga for their world feed in English. That has been a labour of love for a few years now with my background in German language. Other than that, it was a matter of reconnecting with old contacts.

So what happened after you did that?
I found out that I hadn’t been forgotten about in the USA TV market which is always a relief for any freelancer. My former boss at ESPN, Amy Rosenfeld, initially offered me a few games. Then a chat with NBC Sports, who broadcast the Premier League exclusively in the USA, ended with them asking about my availability as both a studio host and match commentator for certain weekends. That was a perfect complement to my Bundesliga work. Under Pierre Moossa’s direction everyone is very detail orientated at NBC. Those who know me well can confirm that approach appeals strongly to my personality! I’ve enjoyed working with Lee Dixon, Graeme Le Saux and Phil Neville amongst others on some of the best matches in England. Fox Sports, who are the US rights holders for the World Cup, also asked me to join their commentary team for this summer’s tournament. I have been at the microphone for every major tournament (Euros and World Cups) since 2008 on US TV. That was the case even while I was living in the U.K. So between ESPN, NBC and Fox, in the space of just a few months, I will have commentated for all 3 major football networks in the United States.

Do you prefer that kind of freelance arrangement?
I do at this point actually. For years, I’ve been working mostly for one main broadcaster but with scope to do other things elsewhere such as the Bundesliga. Now, I essentially make my own schedule and take on what appeals to me. I like bouncing between different channels as it keeps you on your toes.

Is it true that you have also covered other sports this past year?
It is indeed. I was hired by Amazon Prime to broadcast the NFL last autumn. They had worldwide rights to a streaming package of Thursday night games and wanted to make available a British commentary feed with a distinct sound. So they approached me, told me they liked my style and would I be interested in bringing that sound to the NFL? I said yes and really enjoyed it. I wanted this phase to be about trying new things and this fell into that category perfectly. I’ve also been hosting rugby for NBC from their Connecticut studios, including Scotland games during the Six Nations Championship.

So it sounds as though you’re busier than ever and travelling a lot?
In some respects yes but I’m doing what I love. I was commentating on around 150 games latterly when resident in the U.K. and I’ve cut that more or less in half which I think makes sense. I want it to be more about quality than quantity, enjoying the time at home when I can. But travel will always be part of the job.

Will you cover any games in MLS?
I have been offered a couple but so far haven’t been able to fit them into the schedule. My focus will likely remain with the Premier League, Bundesliga and international football as opposed to MLS, although I keep an interest in what’s happening around that particular league. It’s important for the development of the game in the United States.

Are there any other exciting projects in the pipeline?
There is one I’ve been working on for several months which came out of the blue and is very exciting. I can’t say too much more at the moment but when it gets officially announced in the next few weeks, it should be of interest to one or two people. It might even involve the Dons, albeit in a slightly indirect way.

Do you keep in touch with other TV commentators in the U.K.?
Very much so. There are of course relatively few of us who do this job. It’s great to bump into fellow commentators at the various grounds. I compare notes regularly with Sky’s Ian Crocker, a terrific pro, who’s here on duty tonight. Technically we used to be rivals but I never saw it that way and don’t think he did either. Ian Darke, who can still be heard on BT Sport’s Premier League and Champions League coverage is one of my closest pals and long time golf partner. It was nice to catch up with the BBC’s Steve Wilson at West Ham recently. Steve has been given the FA Cup Final by his bosses this season and deservedly so. It’s a tight knit community and we can all relate to what other commentators go through.

How has it been, making the transition back to American life after several years in the U.K.?
Well, I lived for almost 20 years in the Boston area before the most recent U.K. spell. As I said earlier, we never sold our house in Massachusetts and so it was truly going home. We live in a beautiful area on the North Shore, as it’s known, and can walk to the beach in 5 minutes. But to live in New England, you have to be prepared for the long, hard winter. It’s much more severe than a Scottish winter, for example. This past winter was particularly harsh and my snow shovelling skills were slightly out of practice! All in all though, I love being back in the Boston area. You truly feel you’re at the heart of the American story given the events of 1776. The area has its own character and accent and I have always felt very much at home.

Do you still keep tabs on what’s happening at Pittodrie?
Of course. Red TV is great for that. Plus just generally it’s a more connected world. When I first moved to Boston in the early 90s, I would rely on newspaper clippings sent through the post. Now it’s all there on your phone when you wake up in the morning! I got a call from Dave Cormack recently, updating me on the new initiatives at the club, especially the AberDNA project. As a proud Aberdonian, I’ll always have a bond with the club.

What do you miss most about Scottish football?
The chats before matches with kit men, physios, backroom staff, managers, assistant managers. Having access to the tunnel areas meant you built relationships with these guys and you feel the heartbeat of every football club that way. I would arrive several hours early before a commentary game and miss that a lot.

Is it rowies or butteries to you?
I have always been a rowie man thanks to my father who is very much from the toon as opposed to the country! We don’t get rowies in Boston of course but my wife made them from scratch for me a few years ago as a birthday present. They taste even better straight out of the oven.