It was awfully quiet on the Colorado Rapids coaching search front, but over the last 24 hours, things have heated up considerably.
On Thursday, The Athletic’s Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio reported that former Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas is among the finalists. Then Friday morning, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle added that Charlotte FC assistant Pa-Modou Kah is also a finalist, as is interim head coach Chris Little. A fourth candidate’s identity is not known at this stage.
The Rapids are said to be in the final stages of the search with a decision expected “imminently.”
Here’s a breakdown of the presumed finalists, which The Post was unable to independently verify. In a statement, a club spokesman told The Post “We’re going to respectfully decline to confirm or deny any rumors about specific candidates out of respect for our pool of candidates.”
Chris Armas, 51
Armas is back stateside after spending two seasons coaching English Premier League sides. First he was an assistant under interim head coach Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United from December until May 2022. Earlier this year, he was briefly reunited with Jesse Marsch as an assistant at Leeds United. After Marsch’s dismissal in February, he remained at the club for a short while later.
The former Chicago Fire and USMNT player’s longest coaching stint came with New York Red Bulls in 2018 after taking over for Marsch, as he helped lead the team to a Supporters’ Shield, but ultimately lost in the Eastern Conference Final. He then was named head coach of Toronto FC in January 2021, but last only 11 games in charge before getting fired.
Chris Little, 45
If there were a “players’ vote,” Chris Little would win it by a healthy margin. The Edinburgh, Scotland, native has made huge strides in his interim role, getting back to basics after Robin Frasier’s “parting ways” with the team in September. He helped Colorado avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon for the team with the worst record, picking up two wins and two draws along the way.
“I love Chris. Ever since he’s got here, he’s helped me tremendously, and as an assistant, was going through video from the start looking for ways to get me better. He was doing goal-setting with me and wanted to help maximize my potential,” Littleton native Cole Bassett said in the final game of the season. “He’s deserved this opportunity as interim, and … if he gets the job I think we’d all be very happy. And even if he doesn’t, either way, the guy needs to be here next year.”
Little comes from a development background. He spent time with the Seattle Sounders academy starting in 2017, and in addition to being the director of coaching for the academy, eventually was the Tacoma Defiance head coach.
Pa-Modou Kah, 43
The intrigue with Kah is definitely there. He has been a consistent winner, has played just about everywhere, and he connects with the players. The Gambian-born Charlotte FC coach speaks seven languages.
Kah’s soccer career took him to seven countries, but he also played for the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS from 2013 to 2017. He also made 10 appearances for the Norwegian national team.
His coaching career has been based in North America: He was an assistant with the Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Cincinnati. His first head coach role came with Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League, where he garnered recognition for a high-octane press and routinely played young players, no matter the stage. He then coached North Texas SC for the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season before arriving at Charlotte ahead of this year.
Two other names were linked to the Rapids job: former Mexican international Efraín Juárez, and as previously reported, Arsenal FC academy coach Jack Wilshere.
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