Chris Armas

Head Coach

Chris Armas was appointed as the 10th permanent head coach in Rapids history on November 16, 2023. 

Armas, 51, joined the club with two decades of combined experience in MLS as a player and coach. The former defensive midfielder (LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire FC) enjoyed a successful, 12-year playing career in the league during which he won an MLS Cup (1998), a Supporters’ Shield (2003) and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006). A six-time MLS All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), Armas is one of only five players in league history to have been named to the MLS Best XI five times (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003). After recovering from an ACL injury sustained in 2002, he was named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2003, as well as Chicago Fire FC’s MVP during their Supporters’ Shield-winning season that same year. 

A native of New York City, Armas earned 66 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team during his playing career, winning two Concacaf Gold Cups (2002, 2005), as well as being named the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.

After his retirement from playing, Armas began his coaching career in 2008 as an assistant coach for Chicago Fire FC before spending four years as head coach of Adelphi University’s women’s soccer team. In 2015, he joined the New York Red Bulls as an assistant coach as the side won the Supporters’ Shield that year. Armas was then appointed Red Bulls head coach in July 2018 following Jesse Marsch’s departure to RB Leipzig, finishing the regular season with a 12-3-3 record as his side won the 2018 Supporters’ Shield, while also leading the club to the Eastern Conference Finals. Most recently, Armas served as an assistant coach for English Premier League sides Manchester United (2021-22) and Leeds United (2023).