TFC hire new coach
Toronto FC hired Chris Armas as the club’s new head coach Wednesday.
Armas is undoubtedly aware that TFC is a family that may be without a home for a while. It seems doubtful — given the COVID-19 surge across North America — that the various levels government in Canada are going to relent and allow u.s. teams to cross the border and play regular-season MLS games in Toronto when the season starts, probably in March. For the latter part of the 2020 season, the three Canadian MLS clubs were forced to relocate to the u.s. for training and home games — a likely scenario for the start of the 2021 season.
That will be a major challenge as Armas begins as TFC’S 10th head coach. Armas replaces Greg Vanney, who accepted the head coaching gig with the LA Galaxy earlier this month. Like Vanney, Armas is a former MLS standout and u.s. international. he is also reportedly a friend of TFC GM Ali Curtis, meaning that Curtis is officially putting his own stamp on this team.
“I could not be more excited to join a club with Toronto FC’S level of excellence and winning tradition and I will work tirelessly to uphold those standards,” said Armas in a statement. “I’m grateful to Mr. (Larry) Tanenbaum and to (TFC president) Bill Manning and Ali Curtis for their belief in me and for giving me this opportunity. As an opposing coach I felt the passion the fans and supporters bring to BMO Field. It is next level. I can’t wait to put a team on the field that will not only make them proud with the way we play, but also with the way we run, battle and compete.”
Curtis seemed over the moon with securing Armas, even though he isn’t the “international” coach many thought TFC would sign after Vanney left.
Armas, 48, joins TFC after most recently serving as the head coach of the New york red Bulls. Armas took over the red Bulls on July 6, 2018 and finished that season with a record of 12-3-3, leading the red Bulls to the 2018 Supporters’ Shield and an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. he departed the red Bulls on Sept. 4, 2020 with a record of 33-27-11 in all competitions while his teams averaged 1.61 points per game. Armas originally served as an assistant coach under Jesse Marsch from 2015 until he took over head coaching duties. In Marsch and Armas’ first season with the red Bulls, the club won the 2015 Supporters’ Shield.