Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick will add Chris Armas to his staff at Old Trafford. Rangnick prepared for his first game in charge, the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at the weekend, with the coaches already at the club. But the German-born manager said he’ll make use of his connections to add some fresh names to his backroom staff.
Chris Armas, 49, the former New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC manager, is the first to join Manchester United on a contract until the summer. Sports psychologist Sascha Lense is also expected to officially become part of the project over the next few days.
Armas, a former player at Long Island Rough Riders, La Galaxy, and Chicago Fire, represented the USMNT on 66 occasions on the international scene, scoring two goals. The former midfielder started coaching in 2008, right after quitting his playing career with Chicago Fire. He was an assistant coach at the same club, then went on to work in women’s football for three years with the Adelphi Panthers (2015-2018), before joining New York Red Bulls as an assistant (2015-2018).
Between 2018 and 2020 he was the head coach of the club. In January 2021, he took over at Toronto FC, but left just 15 games into the season at the beginning of July.
“I will obviously try to find one, two, maybe three people who can join us in one or two weeks, but due to the Brexit regulations, it’s not too easy,” Rangnick said in his first press conference at United on Friday. “Many of my former colleagues, no matter if it is video analysts or assistant coaches are in long-term contracts with big clubs so they are not available right now and we have to be a bit smart and clever, and find the right people,” the 63-year-old added.
Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna, Man. United’s current coaches, were also part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s staff. The Norwegian’s third assistant, Michael Carrick, chose to leave his role when Rangnick was appointed even though the new manager tried to convince him to stay.
Will United entertain in the Champions League?
On Wednesday, Rangnick will make his Champions League debut as Manchester United’s manager against Swiss champions Young Boys Bern. Even though they’re already through to the Round of 16 and expected to field a weakened starting 11, the Red Devils are at -280 to win. A draw is at +400, with a Young Boys win at +650. A bet on a three-plus goal match is at -200, the same as another Cristiano Ronaldo goal to be added to the 12 he has netted since his return to Old Trafford in late August.