Chris Armas
American soccer player and coach (born 1972)
title: "Chris Armas" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1972-births", "living-people", "american-people-of-puerto-rican-descent", "sportspeople-of-puerto-rican-descent", "american-men's-soccer-players", "american-soccer-coaches", "united-states-men's-international-soccer-players", "puerto-rican-men's-footballers", "puerto-rican-football-managers", "puerto-rico-men's-international-footballers", "sportspeople-from-the-bronx", "soccer-players-from-new-york-city", "men's-association-football-midfielders", "adelphi-university-alumni", "adelphi-panthers-men's-soccer-players", "long-island-rough-riders-players", "la-galaxy-draft-picks", "la-galaxy-players", "chicago-fire-fc-players", "usisl-players", "usl-second-division-players", "major-league-soccer-players", "dual-internationalists-(men's-football)", "2000-concacaf-gold-cup-players", "2002-concacaf-gold-cup-players", "2003-fifa-confederations-cup-players", "2005-concacaf-gold-cup-players", "concacaf-gold-cup–winning-players", "major-league-soccer-all-stars", "chicago-fire-fc-non-playing-staff", "adelphi-panthers-women's-soccer-coaches", "new-york-red-bulls-non-playing-staff", "new-york-red-bulls-head-coaches", "toronto-fc-head-coaches", "colorado-rapids-head-coaches", "major-league-soccer-head-coaches", "manchester-united-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "association-football-coaches", "st.-anthony's-high-school-(south-huntington,-new-york)-alumni", "people-from-brentwood,-new-york", "soccer-players-from-islip-(town),-new-york", "leeds-united-f.c.-non-playing-staff", "leeds-united-f.c.-managers", "puerto-rican-expatriate-sportspeople-in-canada", "expatriate-soccer-coaches-in-canada", "expatriate-football-managers-in-england", "american-expatriate-sportspeople-in-canada", "american-expatriate-sportspeople-in-england", "american-expatriate-soccer-coaches", "20th-century-american-sportsmen", "national-soccer-hall-of-fame-members"] description: "American soccer player and coach (born 1972)" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Armas" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American soccer player and coach (born 1972) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Chris Armas |
| fullname | Christopher Armas |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | New York City, United States |
| height | 5 ft 7 in |
| position | Midfielder |
| currentclub | Kansas City Current (head coach) |
| youthclubs1 | New York Hota Bavarian |
| youthclubs2 | Brooklyn Italians |
| youthclubs3 | Frosinone |
| youthclubs4 | South Shore |
| collegeyears1 | 1990–1993 |
| college1 | Adelphi Panthers |
| collegecaps1 | 73 |
| collegegoals1 | 17 |
| years1 | 1994–1995 |
| clubs1 | Long Island Rough Riders |
| 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 | 2023–2025 |
| managerclubs9 | Colorado Rapids |
| manageryears10 | 2026– |
| managerclubs10 | Kansas City Current |
| medaltemplates | |
| :: |
| name = Chris Armas | image = | caption = | fullname = Christopher Armas | birth_date = | birth_place = New York City, United States | height = 5 ft 7 in | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Kansas City Current (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 = 2023–2025 | managerclubs9 = Colorado Rapids | manageryears10 = 2026– | managerclubs10 = Kansas City Current | medaltemplates =
Christopher Armas (born August 27, 1972) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
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.
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.
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.
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.
He was therefore later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States, for whom he made his debut November 6, 1998, against Australia. 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.
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. 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.
In 2021, Armas was hired as head coach of Toronto FC, replacing Greg Vanney, who departed the club at the end of his contract. 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.
On December 7, 2021, Armas was hired by Manchester United as assistant coach to work under interim manager Ralf Rangnick. 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, the trio overseeing a 2–2 draw at Old Trafford with Manchester United on 8 February 2023 and Skubala acting as solitary interim manager in the home loss against the same opponents four days later.
On November 17, 2023, Armas returned to Major League Soccer, signing as head coach of the Colorado Rapids.
On October 27, 2025, Armas and the Rapids mutually agreed to part ways after missing the MLS Cup Playoffs.
On January 7, 2026, Armas was named the head coach of the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Personal life
Armas and his wife, Justine, have two sons, Christopher and Aleksei. Aleksi plays college soccer for Hofstra University.
Career statistics
Club
::data[format=table title="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}}"]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Cup | Continental | Total | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Total | 50 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 6 | Total | 214 | 8 | 29 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 273 | 12 | Career total | 264 | 12 | 37 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 333 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 1996 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago Fire | 1998 | Major League Soccer | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 33 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | 21 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
International
::data[format=table title="Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player|7125|accessdate=January 14, 2021}}"] | National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Total | 8 | 0 | Total||66 | 2 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Puerto Rico | 1993 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | 1994 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | ::
:Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Armas goal.
::data[format=table title="List of international goals scored by Chris Armas"]
| No. | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | January 16, 2000 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 13 | February 19, 2000 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States | 2–1 | 2–2 | ||
| (1–2 pen.) | 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup | ||||||
| :: |
Coaching
::data[format=table title="Coaching record by team and tenure"]
| Team | Nat. | From | To | Record | G | W | D | L | Win % | Ref. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Red Bulls | USA | July 6, 2018 | September 4, 2020 | ||||||||
| Toronto FC | CAN | January 13, 2021 | July 4, 2021 | ||||||||
| Colorado Rapids | USA | November 17, 2023 | October 27, 2025 | ||||||||
| :: |
Honors
Player
Chicago Fire
United States
Individual
- MLS Best XI: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
- MLS All-Star: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
- MLS Comeback Player of the Year: 2003
- Chicago Fire MVP: 2003
- National Soccer Hall of Fame: 2025
Coach
New York Red Bulls
References
References
- "Our Notable Alumni". [[Adelphi University]].
- "Chris Armas (2005) – Adelphi Hall of Fame profile". [[Adelphi University]].
- Lewis, Michael. (January 14, 2021). "Surreal Experience: Repost: Armas enjoys return to Hota (2004)".
- Marcus, Jeffrey. (November 14, 2007). "Kicking About: Retiring, Training and Mourning".
- Wahl, Grant. (November 2, 1998). "Inside Soccer: Chris Armas: Man Without A Country?". [[Time Warner]].
- Lewis, Michael. (May 19, 2020). "Unsung Hero: Chris Armas and His Contributions to the USMNT".
- Boehm, Charles. (December 7, 2021). "What the discourse is missing about Chris Armas' shock move to Manchester United". MLSsoccer.com.
- (July 6, 2018). "Jesse Marsch leaves New York Red Bulls, Chris Armas promoted". [[ABC Owned Television Stations]].
- (September 4, 2020). "New York Red Bulls Fire Manager Chris Armas". theMaven.
- Davidson, Neil. (January 13, 2021). "Former Red Bulls coach Chris Armas named as Greg Vanney's successor at Toronto FC". [[Torstar]].
- Singh, Michael. (July 4, 2021). "BREAKING: Toronto FC fire head coach Chris Armas". Waking the Red.
- "Rangnick confirms new coaching staff". Manchester United.
- (December 12, 2021). "Chris Armas: Who is Ralf Rangnick's new assistant at Manchester United?".
- (February 6, 2023). "Trio to take chare of Manchester United fixture". www.leedsunited.com.
- (8 February 2023). "Sancho earns Man Utd point in thrilling Leeds draw". [[BBC Sport]].
- (February 10, 2023). "Michael Skubala to remain Leeds United interim boss for Man Utd game". BBC Sport.
- Taylor, Louise. (12 February 2023). "Leeds rue missed chances after Marcus Rashford sparks Manchester United win". [[The Guardian]].
- Stone, Simon. (12 February 2023). "Leeds United 0-2 Manchester United: Marcus Rashford sets visitors on way to victory". [[BBC Sport]].
- "Colorado Rapids appoint Chris Armas as Head Coach".
- (October 27, 2025). "Colorado Rapids and Head Coach Chris Armas mutually agree to part ways".
- (2026-01-07). "Kansas City Current Announces Chris Armas as Head Coach". [[Kansas City Current]].
- (December 23, 2025). "Sources: Kansas City Current to hire Chris Armas as coach".
- Firchau, Nick. (January 27, 2011). "What Ever Happened To: Chris Armas". Major League Soccer.
- {{MLS player. chris-armas
- "Chicago Fire player registry – Chris Armas". Major League Soccer.
- {{NFT player. 7125
- (September 5, 2020). "New York Red Bulls fire head coach Armas after two years". [[ESPN Inc.]].
- (July 4, 2021). "Toronto FC fires manager Chris Armas amid club's struggles in MLS". [[ESPN Inc.]].
- (July 17, 1999). "1999 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com.
- (July 29, 2000). "2000 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com.
- (2024-12-03). "Chris Armas Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame".
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