Kansas City Current Announces Chris Armas as Head Coach

A decorated MLS and USMNT player, Armas brings nearly two decades of coaching experience to the Heartland

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kansas City Current has appointed Chris Armas as the club's head coach, the organization announced Wednesday. Armas, who was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2025, has over three decades of playing and coaching experience at the highest level of the sport.

"We are beyond excited to welcome Chris to the Kansas City Current family," said co-owners Angie and Chris Long. "He brings an abundance of experience at the highest levels both as a coach and a player and shares in our long-term vision of the Kansas City Current being the best women's football club in the world. A natural leader, Chris demands excellence, and we are confident he will further cultivate and enhance our competitive environment as we continue to pursue championships and expand our global footprint."

Most recently, Armas was the head coach of the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer (MLS) during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He led the Rapids back to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2024 and earned a third-place finish in the 2025 Leagues Cup while capturing back-to-back Rocky Mountain Cup titles.

Armas' coaching career began in 2008 as an assistant for Chicago Fire FC before spending four years as the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University, his alma mater, from 2011-14. Under his direction, Adelphi had back-to-back Northeast 10 (NE10) Tournament final appearances in 2012 and 2013, earned its first NCAA Tournament berth in six years in 2013 and rose as high as ninth in the national rankings in 2014. Armas, who produced 20 All-Conference and six All-Region selections during his time with the Panthers, was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches Regional Coaching Staff of the Year and the NE10 Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2013.

In 2015, he joined the New York Red Bulls as an assistant coach and the team won the Supporters' Shield that year. Armas was appointed the Red Bulls' head coach in July 2018, finishing the regular season with a 12-3-3 record as the club won the 2018 Supporters' Shield and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was then an assistant coach for Manchester United (2021-22) and Leeds United (2023) in the English Premier League, even serving as co-interim head coach of Leeds United. 

"I am honored to be named head coach of the Kansas City Current," said Armas. "Angie and Chris Long have built a top-notch organization with excellence in all that they do, and I'm grateful for their trust. From the talented group of players, the facilities and passionate fan base, this club represents a world class environment. Above all, it's the culture and the people that impressed me most. I'm inspired by the shared vision of the ownership and staff, and I will do everything I can to help make the KC Current the best women's football club in the world."

Regarded as the best American defensive midfielder of his generation, Armas had a successful 12-year playing career in the MLS with LA Galaxy in 1996-97 and Chicago Fire FC from 1998 until his retirement in 2007. He amassed 12 goals and 48 assists across 264 MLS matches and won the 1998 MLS Cup, 2003 Supporters' Shield and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006).

The Brentwood, New York native 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) and he is a six-time MLS All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004). In 2003, he was named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year after recovering from a season-ending injury sustained in 2002. He was also chosen as Chicago Fire FC's MVP during their Shield-winning season that same year.

Armas earned 66 caps and scored two goals for the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) between 1998 and 2005, and he was tabbed the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year in 2000. He was a key member of the USMNT squads that qualified for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups – captaining the team on four occasions during those cycles – but untimely injuries kept him out of both World Cups as well as the 2000 Olympic Games.

"We are excited to have Chris in Kansas City, and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to take the club to new heights," said sporting director Vlatko Andonovski. "Chris brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable for our organization. His passion for the game is evident, as is his commitment to his players and his winning mindset."

A 1994 graduate of Adelphi, Armas earned All-America honors and helped guide the Panthers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He was a two-time All-New York State honoree and led the roster in scoring with 17 points as a senior. After college, Armas spent two years playing for the Long Island Rough Riders in the U.S. Interregional Soccer League (USISL) and was a USISL All-Star for guiding his team to the 1995 Pro League Championship. He was selected to be part of the inaugural class of the Long Island Soccer Football League Hall of Fame in 2013.

Armas and his wife, Justine, have two sons: Christopher and Aleksei.

About the Kansas City Current
Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes. The team competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Kansas City Current plays its home matches at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a professional women's sports team. Named The Most Ambitious NWSL Club for two consecutive seasons by ESPN, the Current is proud of its many precedent-setting accomplishments. To receive updates on the Current visit kansascitycurrent.com.

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