Chris Armas

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chris Armas

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Christopher Armas{{cite web|url=https://www.adelphi.edu/alumni/alumni-pride/notable-alumni/athletics/|title=Our Notable Alumni|work=Adelphi University}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|8|27}}

| birth_place = New York City, United States

| height = 5 ft 7 in

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Colorado Rapids (head coach)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = New York Hota Bavarian

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Brooklyn Italians

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Frosinone

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs4 = South Shore

| collegeyears1 = 1990–1993

| college1 = Adelphi Panthers

| collegecaps1 = 73

| collegegoals1 = 17

| years1 = 1994–1995

| clubs1 = Long Island Rough Riders

| caps1 =

| goals1 = 8

| years2 = 1996–1997

| clubs2 = LA Galaxy

| caps2 = 50

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1998–2007

| clubs3 = Chicago Fire

| caps3 = 214

| goals3 = 8

| totalcaps = 264

| totalgoals = 20

| nationalyears1 = 1993–1994

| nationalteam1 = Puerto Rico

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1998–2005

| nationalteam2 = United States

| nationalcaps2 = 66

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| manageryears1 = 2008

| managerclubs1 = Chicago Fire (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2011–2014

| managerclubs2 = Adelphi Panthers (women)

| manageryears3 = 2015–2018

| managerclubs3 = New York Red Bulls (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2018–2020

| managerclubs4 = New York Red Bulls

| manageryears5 = 2021

| managerclubs5 = Toronto FC

| manageryears6 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs6 = Manchester United (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2023

| managerclubs7 = Leeds United (assistant)

| manageryears8 = 2023

| managerclubs8 = Leeds United (co-interim)

| manageryears9 = 2023–

| managerclubs9 = Colorado Rapids

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{USA}}}}

}}

Christopher Armas (born August 27, 1972) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.

Youth and college

Born in The Bronx, New York City, Armas is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in Brentwood, New York. He graduated from St. Anthony's High School and then attended Adelphi University from 1990 to 1993, amassing 17 goals and 15 assists over his collegiate career. Armas was named an NCAA Division II First Team All-American his senior year.{{cite web|url=https://aupanthers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/chris-armas/141|title=Chris Armas (2005) – Adelphi Hall of Fame profile|website=Adelphi Panthers|publisher=Adelphi University|access-date=January 14, 2021}}

Playing career

=Professional=

After graduating from college, Armas spent 1994 and 1995 playing for the USISL's Long Island Rough Riders, being selected as a USISL All-Star. In 1995, the Rough Riders defeated the Minnesota Thunder in the USISL's Pro League Championship.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Michael|url=https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2021/01/14/surreal-experience-repost-armas-enjoys-return-to-hota-2004-2/|title=Surreal Experience: Repost: Armas enjoys return to Hota (2004)|website=Front Row Soccer|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=January 14, 2021}}

In 1996, Armas was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft and played a significant role in their first and second seasons. Chicago Fire acquired Armas in a trade for their inaugural 1998 campaign. It was with the 1998 Fire team that Armas emerged as an exceptional player, helping them win their first MLS Championship that year. Between 1998 and 2001, Armas was named to the MLS Best XI four consecutive times, his streak only being broken by an ACL injury that kept him out of much of the 2002 campaign; Armas was named to his fifth Best XI after the 2003 MLS season, in addition to being named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2000. In ten years in MLS, he totaled eleven goals and 41 assists, plus added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.

On April 19, 2007, Armas announced that the 2007 MLS season with the Chicago Fire would be his last, as he decided to retire. His retirement was made official on November 13, 2007, after spending 12 years in MLS.{{cite news|last=Marcus|first=Jeffrey|url=https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/kicking-about-retiring-training-and-mourning/|title=Kicking About: Retiring, Training and Mourning|website=The New York Times|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=November 14, 2007}}

=International=

Armas played for Puerto Rico in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. The competition was not then recognized by FIFA and so his five matches were classed as friendlies.{{cite magazine|last=Wahl|first=Grant|author-link=Grant Wahl|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/11/02/inside-soccer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928100104/https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/11/02/inside-soccer|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2020|title=Inside Soccer: Chris Armas: Man Without A Country?|magazine=Sports Illustrated|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=November 2, 1998}}

He was therefore later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States, for whom he made his debut November 6, 1998, against Australia.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Michael|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/05/unsung-hero-chris-armas-and-his-contributions-to-the-usmnt|title=Unsung Hero: Chris Armas and His Contributions to the USMNT|website=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=May 19, 2020}} He went on to earn 66 caps. He did not break into the squad until soon after the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and his ACL injury came just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup, so he was never able to play for the United States in the World Cup. He was named as a standby player for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and did not feature in the final squad.

Coaching career

After his retirement, he coached youth soccer and was a high school physical education teacher at St. Anthony's High School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/what-the-discourse-is-missing-about-chris-armas-shock-move-to-manchester-united|title=What the discourse is missing about Chris Armas' shock move to Manchester United|first=Charles|last=Boehm|date=December 7, 2021|work=MLSsoccer.com}}

Armas served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Fire in 2008 and was the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University between 2011 and 2015.

On July 6, 2018, Armas was promoted to head coach of New York Red Bulls after former manager Jesse Marsch departed the club to join Red Bull Salzburg as an assistant.{{cite news|url=https://abc7ny.com/sports/jesse-marsch-leaves-new-york-red-bulls-chris-armas-promoted/3717120/|title=Jesse Marsch leaves New York Red Bulls, Chris Armas promoted|website=WABC-TV|publisher=ABC Owned Television Stations|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=July 6, 2018}} Armas helped the Red Bulls finish first in the regular season, winning the Supporters' Shield as a result. The Red Bulls were eliminated in the conference finals by Atlanta United.

In 2019, the Red Bulls finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated by the Philadelphia Union in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Bulls were then eliminated in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament after they were defeated by FC Cincinnati. The team was in the middle of a scoring slump when Armas parted ways with the club on September 4, 2020, the day after a 1–0 loss to D.C. United.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/09/04/chris-armas-fired-new-york-red-bulls-mls|title=New York Red Bulls Fire Manager Chris Armas|magazine=Sports Illustrated|publisher=theMaven|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=September 4, 2020}}

In 2021, Armas was hired as head coach of Toronto FC, replacing Greg Vanney, who departed the club at the end of his contract.{{cite news|last=Davidson|first=Neil|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2021/01/13/source-former-red-bulls-coach-chris-armas-to-succeed-greg-vanney-at-toronto-fc.html|title=Former Red Bulls coach Chris Armas named as Greg Vanney's successor at Toronto FC|website=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=January 13, 2021}} On July 4, 2021, following a 7–1 loss to D.C. United, the largest loss in the club's history and a league record of one win, eight losses and two draws, the team announced he had been fired.{{cite web|url=https://www.wakingthered.com/2021/7/4/22563155/breaking-toronto-fc-fire-head-coach-chris-armas|title=BREAKING: Toronto FC fire head coach Chris Armas|date=July 4, 2021|work=Waking the Red|first=Michael|last=Singh}}

On December 7, 2021, Armas was hired by Manchester United as assistant coach to work under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.{{Cite web|title=Rangnick confirms new coaching staff|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-interim-boss-ralf-rangnick-confirms-new-additions-to-backroom-team-7-december-2021|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=ManUtd.com|publisher=Manchester United}}{{cite web |last1=Dholakia |first1=Raj |title=Chris Armas: Who is Ralf Rangnick's new assistant at Manchester United? |url=https://thepeoplesperson.com/2021/12/09/chris-armas-who-is-ralf-rangnicks-new-assistant-at-manchester-united-243530/ |website=THE PEOPLES PERSON |access-date=December 14, 2021 |date=December 12, 2021}} He left the club in May 2022.

In January 2023, it was confirmed that Armas had re-united with Jesse Marsch at Leeds United. Armas was named co-interim head coach alongside Michael Skubala and Paco Gallardo following the sacking of Jesse Marsch in February,{{Cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30998/trio-to-take-charge-of-manchester-united-fixture/|title=Trio to take chare of Manchester United fixture|date=February 6, 2023 |publisher=www.leedsunited.com}} the trio overseeing a 2–2 draw at Old Trafford with Manchester United on 8

February 2023{{Cite news|date=8 February 2023 |title=Sancho earns Man Utd point in thrilling Leeds draw |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62866736 |access-date=9 February 2023}} and Skubala acting as solitary interim manager in the home loss against the same opponents four days later.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64603520|title=Michael Skubala to remain Leeds United interim boss for Man Utd game |work=BBC Sport |date=February 10, 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/feb/12/leeds-united-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report|title=Leeds rue missed chances after Marcus Rashford sparks Manchester United win|last=Taylor|first=Louise|work=The Guardian|date=12 February 2023|access-date=13 February 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64527481|title=Leeds United 0-2 Manchester United: Marcus Rashford sets visitors on way to victory|last=Stone|first=Simon|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2023|access-date=13 February 2023}}

On November 17, 2023, Armas returned to Major League Soccer, signing as head coach of the Colorado Rapids.{{cite web |title=Colorado Rapids appoint Chris Armas as Head Coach |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-appoint-chris-armas-as-head-coach |website=Colorado Rapids}}

Personal life

Armas and his wife, Justine, have two sons, Christopher and Aleksei.{{cite news|last=Firchau|first=Nick|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2011/01/27/what-ever-happened-chris-armas|title=What Ever Happened To: Chris Armas|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=January 27, 2011}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|Playoffs !colspan=2\|Cup{{efn\|All appearances in the U.S. Open Cup}} !colspan=2\|Continental !colspan=2\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{MLS player\|chris-armas\|accessdate=May 4, 2014}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/playerregistry/chris-armas\|title=Chicago Fire player registry – Chris Armas\|website=Chicago Fire FC\|publisher=Major League Soccer\|access-date=January 13, 2021\|archive-date=June 19, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619082516/https://www.chicagofirefc.com/playerregistry/chris-armas\|url-status=dead}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=3\|LA Galaxy \|1996 \|rowspan=2\|Major League Soccer \|22	1	6	2	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	28	3
1997 \|28	3	2	0	colspan=2\|—	2{{efn\|Appearance(s) in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup\|name=CCC}}	0	32	3
colspan=2\|Total !50	4	8	2	0	0	2	0	60	6
rowspan=11\|Chicago Fire \|1998 \|rowspan=10\|Major League Soccer \|31	1	5	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	39	1
1999 \|22	1	3	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=CCC}}	0	28	1
2000 \|16	0	5	0	4	0	colspan=2\|—	25	0
2001 \|21	0	6	1	3	0	colspan=2\|—	30	1
2002 \|4	0	0	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name=CCC}}	0	6	0
2003 \|25	2	4	1	4	1	colspan=2\|—	33	4
2004 \|21	1	colspan=2\|—	3	0	3{{efn\|name=CCC}}	1	27	2
2005 \|22	2	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	25	2
2006 \|27	1	2	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	31	1
2007 \|25	0	3	0	1	0	colspan=2\|—	29	0
colspan=2\|Total !214	8	29	2	22	1	8	1	273	12
colspan=3\|Career total !264	12	37	4	22	1	10	1	333	18

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player\|7125\|accessdate=January 14, 2021}}
rowspan=3\|Puerto Rico \|1993	6	0
1994	2	0
Total	8	0
rowspan=10\|United States
1998	1	0
1999	7	0
2000	14	2
2001	13	0
2002	11	0
2003	4	0
2004	8	0
2005	8	0
Total\|\|66	2

:Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Armas goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Chris Armas
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|align="center"\|9 \| January 16, 2000 \| Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States \| {{fb\|Iran}} \|align="center"\|1–1 \|align="center"\|1–1 \| Friendly
align="center"\|2 \|align="center"\|13 \| February 19, 2000 \| Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States \| {{fb\|Colombia}} \|align="center"\|2–1 \|align="center"\|2–2 (1–2 pen.) \| 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Chris Armas

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|align="center"|9

| January 16, 2000

| Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States

| {{fb|Iran}}

|align="center"|1–1

| Friendly

align="center"|2

|align="center"|13

| February 19, 2000

| Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States

| {{fb|Colombia}}

|align="center"|2–1

|align="center"|2–2
(1–2 pen.)

| 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup

=Coaching=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Coaching record by team and tenure
rowspan=2\|Team !rowspan=2\|Nat. !rowspan=2\|From !rowspan=2\|To !colspan=6\|Record
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}} !Ref.
align=left\|New York Red Bulls \|{{flagicon\|USA}} \|align=left\|July 6, 2018 \|align=left\|September 4, 2020 {{WDL\|71\|33\|11\|27}} \|{{cite news\|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4172732/new-york-red-bulls-fire-head-coach-armas-after-two-years\|title=New York Red Bulls fire head coach Armas after two years\|website=ESPN.com\|publisher=ESPN Inc.\|access-date=January 13, 2021\|date=September 5, 2020}}
align=left\|Toronto FC \|{{flagicon\|CAN}} \|align=left\|January 13, 2021 \|align=left\|July 4, 2021 {{WDL\|15\|2\|3\|10}} \|{{cite news\|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/toronto-fc/story/4426643/toronto-fc-fires-manager-chris-armas-amid-clubs-struggles-in-mls\|title=Toronto FC fires manager Chris Armas amid club's struggles in MLS\|website=ESPN.com\|publisher=ESPN Inc.\|access-date=July 4, 2021\|date=July 4, 2021}}
align=left\|Colorado Rapids \|{{flagicon\|USA}} \|align=left\|November 17, 2023 \|align=left\|Present {{WDL\|54\|22\|11\|21}} \|
colspan=4\|Total {{WDLtot\|140\|57\|25\|58}} !

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Coaching record by team and tenure

rowspan=2|Team

!rowspan=2|Nat.

!rowspan=2|From

!rowspan=2|To

!colspan=6|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

!Ref.

align=left|New York Red Bulls

|{{flagicon|USA}}

|align=left|July 6, 2018

|align=left|September 4, 2020

|{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4172732/new-york-red-bulls-fire-head-coach-armas-after-two-years|title=New York Red Bulls fire head coach Armas after two years|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2021|date=September 5, 2020}}

align=left|Toronto FC

|{{flagicon|CAN}}

|align=left|January 13, 2021

|align=left|July 4, 2021

|{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/toronto-fc/story/4426643/toronto-fc-fires-manager-chris-armas-amid-clubs-struggles-in-mls|title=Toronto FC fires manager Chris Armas amid club's struggles in MLS|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Inc.|access-date=July 4, 2021|date=July 4, 2021}}

align=left|Colorado Rapids

|{{flagicon|USA}}

|align=left|November 17, 2023

|align=left|Present

colspan=4|Total

Honors

=Player=

Chicago Fire

United States

Individual

MLS Best XI: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
MLS All-Star: 1998, 1999,{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}} 2000,{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2000 |title=2000 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2000-mls-all-star-game-373143 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 28, 2023}} 2001, 2003, 2004
MLS Comeback Player of the Year: 2003
Chicago Fire MVP: 2003