Kansas City Current have confirmed the appointment of former US men's national team player and MLS manager Chris Armas as their new head coach.
A Varied Coaching Journey Leads to NWSL
The 53-year-old steps into the role vacated by Vlatko Andonovski, who decided to focus solely on his duties as the club's sporting director after the conclusion of the 2025 NWSL campaign. Armas brings a wealth of experience from both sides of the Atlantic, though his last involvement in the women's game was over a decade ago at the collegiate level.
Armas was most recently in charge of the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, a position he held from the start of the 2024 season until October 2025. His contract was not renewed after the team failed to reach the playoffs. This followed a nomadic period that included high-profile assistant roles at two Premier League clubs: Manchester United under Ralf Rangnick and Leeds United under Jesse Marsch.
Mixed Fortunes in MLS and a Return to Women's Football
Armas's head coaching career in MLS has been a story of peaks and troughs. His most successful stint came with the New York Red Bulls, whom he led to the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2018 after taking over from Marsch mid-season. However, a disappointing 2019 season led to his dismissal in 2020.
His next move was brief and challenging; he lasted only 15 games in charge of Toronto FC in 2021, losing ten of those matches before being let go. His return to the women's game marks a significant shift. Prior to his MLS and Premier League adventures, Armas coached the Adelphi University Panthers women's team from 2011 to 2014, improving their record each year and culminating in an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Building on a Winning Foundation
Armas inherits a strong squad at Kansas City Current, the reigning NWSL Shield winners. In a statement, sporting director Vlatko Andonovski expressed his confidence in the new appointment: "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. Chris brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable."
Armas himself highlighted the appeal of the project in Kansas City. "From the talented group of players, the facilities and passionate fanbase, this club represents a world class environment," he said. "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."
As a player, Armas earned 66 caps for the USMNT and played 264 MLS games, winning the MLS Cup in 1998. He was named U.S. Soccer's Male Player of the Year in 2000. His task now is to translate his extensive, if eclectic, coaching background into sustained success in the National Women's Soccer League.
