On Tuesday, it was announced that former Chicago Fire midfielder Chris Armas would be joining interim manager Ralf Rangnick's coaching staff at English Premier League giant Manchester United.
Following the departure of former manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, Rangnick - most recently of RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga - was named the team's interim manager on Nov. 29. The 63-year-old appointed Armas to his staff on Tuesday alongside German sports psychologist Sascha Lense.
“Chris used to be the assistant coach at the New York Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch. That was five years ago, when I first met him," Rangnick was quoted as saying in Manchester United's official announcement of his addition. “Since then we have met quite frequently. Also in my role as head of global for Red Bull in the last three-and-a-half years he was head coach for the New York Red Bulls and for Toronto in the MLS.”
Armas, a seven-time MLS All-Star, finished his decorated playing career for the Fire in 2007 having tallied 12 goals and 48 assists through 214 games played. Armas ranks in the top five on the Fire’s all-time list with 42 assists (second), 13 game-winning assists (second), 19,018 minutes played (fifth), 214 games played (fifth), and 212 games started (fourth).
He became the sixth person inducted into the Club's "Ring of Fire" in a ceremony held at SeatGeek Stadium on Oct. 22, 2009.
As for Armas' next challenge, Manchester United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, with 24 points taken through 15 matches played. Up next, they'll host BSC Young Boys at Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, before traveling to face Norwich City on Saturday in a return to Premier League play.
Best of luck, Chris!
