BRIDGEVIEW - Veteran Chicago Fire midfielder and captain Chris Armas announced his retirement today following a 12-year career in Major League Soccer. The 35-year-old Armas, who played his final game last Thursday in New England, made his retirement official at a news conference held at TOYOTA PARK.
"I really felt proud to be part of this team, just as much as any other time in my career. I have total belief in what we have going here, a real honest approach to the game," Armas said in addressing the 2007 campaign. "I'm very proud that I was able to play the game the only way I ever knew - hard and honest. I'm very fortunate that the Galaxy and the Fire gave me the platform to enjoy doing this for a living. I have a lot of people to thank, especially the Fire, for believing in me, sticking with me, and for having that loyalty towards me for all 10 years."
In a decade spent in the Windy City, Armas guided the Fire to five domestic championships, highlighted by the 1998 MLS Cup Championship and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006). He led the "Men in Red" to nine postseason appearances in 10 years and served five seasons as team captain, a mark equaled only by Peter Nowak. All told, Armas appeared in four MLS Cup Finals, three with the Fire (1998, 2000, 2003) and one with the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996).
A Bronx native, Armas played an integral role with the U.S. National Team (1998-2005) as well, earning 66 caps and scoring a pair of goals. During Armas' tenure with the national team, the Stars and Stripes qualified for two FIFA World Cups. Armas wore the captain's armband on three occasions and was named U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.
Considered one of the best players in MLS history, Armas has left his mark on the Fire Record Book. Armas ranks second all-time in career assists (42) and is tied for second place in games started (212) and game-winning assists (13) while standing third in games played (214) and minutes played (19,018); and sixth in shots (154). Among MLS players, Armas ranks seventh all-time in starts (260) and minutes (23,027); and is tied for ninth in games played (264).
In terms of league honors, Armas was named to five MLS "Best XI" teams (1998-2001, 2003) and seven consecutive MLS All-Star Teams (1998-2004), appearing in five mid-season classics. In 2003, he received the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award and was named the Fire's Most Valuable Player. One of only 10 players to have played at least one minute in every MLS season, Armas becomes the latest "MLS Original" to retire in 2007, joining Los Angeles' Cobi Jones and Jason Kreis and Eddie Pope of Real Salt Lake.
"I feel very proud to be there from the beginning of MLS," said Armas. "I have been fortunate to watch this league grow and thrive and feel very proud to be part of this journey."
5-7, 160 :: Born: 8-27-72 :: Bronx, N.Y. :: College: Adelphi
MLS Regular Season
1996 (Los Angeles) GP 22, GS 20, MIN 1702, G 1, A 1
1997 (Los Angeles) GP 28, GS 28, MIN 2307, G 3, A 5
1998 (Chicago) GP 31, GS 31, MIN 2790, G 1, A 10
1999 (Chicago) GP 22, GS 22, MIN 1935, G 1, A 5
2000 (Chicago) GP 16, GS 16, MIN 1479, G 0, A 5
2001 (Chicago) GP 21, GS 21, MIN 1940, G 0, A 1
2002 (Chicago) GP 4 , GS 4 , MIN 347, G 0, A 1
2003 (Chicago) GP 25, GS 25, MIN 2267, G 2, A 4
2004 (Chicago) GP 21, GS 20, MIN 1821, G 1, A 7
2005 (Chicago) GP 22, GS 22, MIN 1879, G 2, A 2
2006 (Chicago) GP 27, GS 27, MIN 2366, G 1, A 5
2006 (Chicago) GP 27, GS 27, MIN 2366, G 1, A 5
2007 (Chicago) GP 25, GS 24, MIN 2194, G 0, A 2
Totals GP 264, GS 260, MIN 23027, G 12, A 48
MLS Cup Playoffs
1996 (Los Angeles) GP 6, GS 6, MIN 544, G 2, A 0
1997 (Los Angeles) GP 2, GS 2, MIN 180, G 0, A 0
1998 (Chicago) GP 5, GS 5, MIN 450, G 0, A 0
1999 (Chicago) GP 3, GS 3, MIN 270, G 0, A 0
2000 (Chicago) GP 5, GS 5, MIN 426, G 1, A 2
2001 (Chicago) GP 6, GS 6, MIN 572, G 1, A 1
2002 (Chicago) DNP-Inj.
2003 (Chicago) GP 4, GS 4, MIN 371, G 1, A 1
2005 (Chicago) GP 1, GS 1, MIN 90, G 0, A 0
2006 (Chicago) GP 2, GS 2, MIN 210, G 0, A 0
2007 (Chicago) GP 3, GS 3, MIN 270, G 0, A 0
Totals GP 37, GS 37, MIN 3383, G 4, A 4
Professional Career - Long Island (USISL), Los Angeles (MLS), Chicago (MLS)
Total Games: 413 (272 regular season, 40 playoff, 20 Open Cup, 11 CONCACAF Champions Cup, 4 friendlies, 66 US MNT)
Transaction:
CHICAGO FIRE - Midfielder Chris Armas announces his retirement
What they're saying about Chris Armas ...
"For ten years Chris has been the heart and soul of the Chicago Fire, contributing in so many ways to the team's success on and off the field. Indeed it is hard to image the Chicago Fire without Chris Armas. He has been the quintessential ambassador, a true leader and inspiration for everyone associated with this Club. On behalf of every player that has ever worn a Fire shirt, every coach and staff member, and every Chicago Fire fan, I would like to sincerely thank Chris for ten magnificent years."
John Guppy, Fire President/CEO
"He has to be very pleased with his professional career. In Chris' case, he competed at the highest level and played for some very good teams. His qualities will be missed. He is a very good leader on and off the pitch. His tactical awareness was his main asset to the team, he always seemed to be in the right place to break things down and to start our attacks. Off the field, a very good professional, a family-oriented man with high values and a remarkable work ethic. He will be missed by everybody. I can only congratulate him on his career and wish him the best in everything he is going to do from now on."
Juan Carlos Osorio, Fire head coach
"There are many professional soccer players that have passed through my life - very few have the combined qualities of Chris Armas; a competitor, a leader, an ambassador, a gentleman and a true friend. I always consider it an honor to call him a teammate and I want to wish him continued successes in his life. The Chicago Fire was lucky to have him as a part of this organization for all these years."
Frank Klopas, Ring of Fire, teammate (1998-99)
"He is a very good leader. I think he respects the game, studies the game and plays the game harder than anybody. He embodies tradition, honor and passion. It's really, really hard to fill those shoes. He does all the dirty work on and off the field. You know that if you're going into a fight, he is going to be right there with you."
C.J. Brown, teammate (1998-07)
"He has been a great mentor. From the first day I was here, he treated me with respected and definitely helped me along the way. He is the best leader I've ever played with. I have been very fortunate to spend three years around him, to learn from him and see how a true professional acts. No matter what the game or situation, he always gave a 110 percent. His hard work showed in his dedication and devotion to the team, the organization and the city."
Chris Rolfe, teammate (2005-07)
"I've been fortunate enough to be his coach and friend. He played with such passion and honor, he did things the right way. He did the dirty work, but made it look good. He missed two World Cups because of injuries and he never let it affect him. He always looked at the bigger picture. He played with a lot of pain this year, but he continued to do his job. He was on a mission this year, trying to get us into the final. He did so much for this organization, he really was the heart and soul of this team."
Denis Hamlett, assistant coach (1998-07)
