Colorado Rapids announce Chris Armas as 10th head coach in franchise history
Chris Armas has been all over the world for soccer but found a new home with the Colorado Rapids on Friday.
The 51-year-old coaching veteran was announced as the club’s 10th permanent head coach in its history. He will replace Chris Little who took over for Robin Fraser after the former was dismissed last season.
“We’re delighted to begin a new chapter at the Colorado Rapids with Chris as our head coach,” Rapids president Pádraig Smith said. “Chris brings a wealth of experience across the highest levels of the game, both as a player and as a coach. He is a natural leader who demands the highest standards from his players and understands what it takes to build a positive, and winning culture.”
Armas played 12 seasons in the MLS. In that time, he became one of five players in league history to be named to the MLS Best XI five separate times. He was also named the 2003 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a torn ACL.
He then joined the Chicago Fire as an assistant coach before moving to Adelphi University where he coached the women’s team for four years.
Most recently, he was an assistant for Manchester United in the English Premier League, then performed the same role with Leeds United this year before making it stateside to take the Rapids’ open role.
“I’m incredibly proud and excited to take the role as the head coach of the Colorado Rapids,” Armas said in a statement. “This is a club that has had success in the recent past and KSE is an organization that has a strong track record of winning championships.
“Throughout the process, I was struck by the desire of the organization to return to the playoffs and compete for trophies. I’m as hungry as ever to deliver this success to our fans and our club.”
Colorado won the MLS Cup in 2010 but has missed the playoffs in seven of the 12 seasons since. It missed out in 2023, too, thanks to an 5-17-12 record.
Armas will be introduced at a press conference Thursday, Nov. 30 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The event is set to start around 11 a.m.
Manchester United’s assistant coach Chris Armas during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)