Chris Armas
Encyclopedia
Chris Armas is a retired American
soccer player. He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University
. He was also a teacher of physical education at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York.
descent. He attended Adelphi University
from 1990–1993, amassing 17 goals and 15 assists over the four years, and was named an NCAA Division I First Team All-American his senior year.
, being selected as a USISL All-Star. In 1995, the Rough Riders defeated the Minnesota Thunder
in the USISL's Pro League Championship. Besides Armas, the 1995 Rough Riders also included such future MLS standouts like Tony Meola
, Giovanni Savarese
and Jim Rooney.
In 1996, Armas was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy
in the first round of the Major League Soccer
Supplemental Draft, and played a significant role in their first and second seasons. Chicago Fire acquired Armas in a trade for their inaugural 1998 campaign. It was with the 1998 Chicago Fire team that Armas emerged as an exceptional player, helping them win their first (and only) MLS Championship that year. Between 1998 and 2001, Armas was named to the MLS Best XI four consecutive times, his streak only being broken by an ACL injury that kept him out of much of the 2002 campaign; Armas was named to his fifth Best XI after the 2003 MLS season, in addition to being named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2000. In ten years in MLS, he totaled 11 goals and 41 assists, plus added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
On April 19, 2007, Armas announced that the 2007 MLS season with the Chicago Fire would be his last, as he decided to retire. His retirement was made official on November 13, 2007, after spending 12 years in MLS.
in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. The competition was not then recognised by FIFA
and so his five matches were classed as friendlies. He was therefore later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States
, for whom he made his debut November 6, 1998 against Australia. He went on to register 66 caps. Unfortunately for Armas, he did not break into the squad until soon after the 1998 FIFA World Cup
, and his ACL injury came just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, so he was never able to play for the United States in the world's most prestigious soccer competition. He was named as a standby player for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and did not feature in the final squad. Armas is the US player with the most caps to never go to a FIFA World Cup.
. He also taught physical education at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York, the high school from which he graduated.
|1996||rowspan="2"|Los Angeles Galaxy
||rowspan="12"|Major League Soccer
||22||1||0||0||6||2||0||0||28||3
|-
|1997||28||3||0||0||2||0||0||0||30||3
|-
|1998||rowspan="10"|Chicago Fire||31||1||3||0||5||0||0||0||39||1
|-
|1999||22||1||0||0||3||0||0||0||25||1
|-
|2000||16||0||4||0||5||0||0||0||25||0
|-
|2001||21||0||1||0||6||1||0||0||28||1
|-
|2002||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2003||25||2||4||1||4||1||0||0||33||4
|-
|2004||21||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||23||1
|-
|2005||22||2||0||0||1||0||0||0||23||2
|-
|2006||27||1||0||0||2||0||0||0||29||1
|-
|2007
||25||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||28||0
264||12||14||1||37||4||0||0||315||17
264||12||14||1||37||4||0||0||315||17
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player. He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
. He was also a teacher of physical education at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York.
College
Armas is of Puerto RicanPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
descent. He attended Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
from 1990–1993, amassing 17 goals and 15 assists over the four years, and was named an NCAA Division I First Team All-American his senior year.
Professional
After graduation, Armas spent 1994 and 1995 playing for the USISL's Long Island Rough RidersLong Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
, being selected as a USISL All-Star. In 1995, the Rough Riders defeated the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
in the USISL's Pro League Championship. Besides Armas, the 1995 Rough Riders also included such future MLS standouts like Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
, Giovanni Savarese
Giovanni Savarese
Giovanni Savarese is a former Venezuelan football player of Italian descent who is best known for his stay with New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer.- Club career :...
and Jim Rooney.
In 1996, Armas was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in the first round of the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Supplemental Draft, and played a significant role in their first and second seasons. Chicago Fire acquired Armas in a trade for their inaugural 1998 campaign. It was with the 1998 Chicago Fire team that Armas emerged as an exceptional player, helping them win their first (and only) MLS Championship that year. Between 1998 and 2001, Armas was named to the MLS Best XI four consecutive times, his streak only being broken by an ACL injury that kept him out of much of the 2002 campaign; Armas was named to his fifth Best XI after the 2003 MLS season, in addition to being named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2000. In ten years in MLS, he totaled 11 goals and 41 assists, plus added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
On April 19, 2007, Armas announced that the 2007 MLS season with the Chicago Fire would be his last, as he decided to retire. His retirement was made official on November 13, 2007, after spending 12 years in MLS.
International
Armas played for Puerto RicoPuerto Rico national football team
The Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. The competition was not then recognised by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and so his five matches were classed as friendlies. He was therefore later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, for whom he made his debut November 6, 1998 against Australia. He went on to register 66 caps. Unfortunately for Armas, he did not break into the squad until soon after the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, and his ACL injury came just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, so he was never able to play for the United States in the world's most prestigious soccer competition. He was named as a standby player for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and did not feature in the final squad. Armas is the US player with the most caps to never go to a FIFA World Cup.
Personal
Armas and his wife, Justine, have two sons, named Christopher and Aleksei. He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi UniversityAdelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
. He also taught physical education at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York, the high school from which he graduated.
Career statistics
|-|1996||rowspan="2"|Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
||rowspan="12"|Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
||22||1||0||0||6||2||0||0||28||3
|-
|1997||28||3||0||0||2||0||0||0||30||3
|-
|1998||rowspan="10"|Chicago Fire||31||1||3||0||5||0||0||0||39||1
|-
|1999||22||1||0||0||3||0||0||0||25||1
|-
|2000||16||0||4||0||5||0||0||0||25||0
|-
|2001||21||0||1||0||6||1||0||0||28||1
|-
|2002||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2003||25||2||4||1||4||1||0||0||33||4
|-
|2004||21||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||23||1
|-
|2005||22||2||0||0||1||0||0||0||23||2
|-
|2006||27||1||0||0||2||0||0||0||29||1
|-
|2007
2007 Major League Soccer season
The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.....
||25||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||28||0
264||12||14||1||37||4||0||0||315||17
264||12||14||1||37||4||0||0||315||17
United States
- CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
(2): 20022002 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
, 20052005 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the eighth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested in the United States in July 2005. The United States emerged victorious in the final against an upstart Panama team led by tournament...