Chris Armas finds a home in Colorado, wonders about what might have been in Toronto
A pair of former Toronto FC coaches meet Saturday when the Los Angeles Galaxy hosts the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the MLS playoffs.
But while Galaxy coach Greg Vanney left Toronto on his accord in December 2020 after winning trophies and setting franchise records, his replacement Chris Armas was shown the door after a disastrous 1-8-2 start to the 2021 season.
After stints as an assistant coach with England’s Manchester United and Leeds United under Ralf Rangnick and Jesse Marsch, respectively, Armas has found a home in Colorado.
In his first season at the helm, the Rapids have gone from last in the Western Conference at 5-17-12 last year to seventh place and the playoffs at 15-14-5 — a 23-point improvement. Three years after being axed by TFC, the 52-year-old Armas finds himself up for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Award, along with Inter Miami’s Tata Martino and Columbus’s Wilfried Nancy.