Chris Armas is in line for an awkward return to Manchester United after Leeds sacked colleague Jesse Marsch but left him in place.
Leeds face the Red Devils in back-to-back Premier League fixtures this week. Armas was omitted from a club statement which confirmed Marsch's departure and who'd be following him out the door, so the Red Devils' former assistant manager will be in the Old Trafford dugout this Wednesday.
Ex-team-mate and good friend Marsch was dismissed by Leeds on Monday, only two weeks after welcoming Armas into his backroom staff in what he believed to be a vote of confidence from the Elland Road board. While Leeds' hierarchy are busy drawing up a list of candidates to replace Marsch, Armas is set to assist under-21s boss and former England Futsal manager Michael Skubala at Old Trafford for the first of two upcoming clashes between the old rivals.
Leeds' decision to keep Armas around for the time being means that 50-year-old will return to where he and one-time United interim boss Ralf Rangnick failed to change the Red Devils' miserable fortunes last season - all while Armas picked up a humiliating nickname.
Labelled 'Ted Lasso' after the fictional TV football coach played by Jason Sudeikis, Armas and the AirPods he wore during matches were reportedly ridiculed behind the scenes in Manchester during his ill-rated spell as Rangnick's No.2. Former United captain Gary Neville slammed the leaks, telling Sky Sports : "I thought that was downright disrespectful – I did not find it funny at all. Not only was it disrespectful, but I found it disgusting.
"It sums up what I think of them: that they are disrespectful. I think if I was Ralf Rangnick and his number two, I would gain strength from that because I would not want to be on the same page of some of those players who are leaking those types of stories. That never happened in my time, but we had the greatest level of stability."
Even Sir Alex Ferguson allegedly mocked him for his lack of experience. According to The Athletic, Armas was laying out his coaching journey to legendary ex-manager Ferguson, who brutally replied: "You'll need more than that here, son!"
Although United slumped to their worst-ever Premier League points tally and finished in sixth place, Armas has fond memories of his spell at the club. "I'm only grateful. They treated me, I promise you all, tremendously," the 66-cap former United States international told The Crack Podcast shortly after leaving Old Trafford, allowing Erik ten Hag and his assistant, Mitchell van der Gaag, to take the reins.
"Upper management, coaching staff, [fellow first-team coach] Darren Fletcher; they treated me as if I'd been there forever and they were amazing. With the players, I had a really good rapport, top to bottom, young or older, or superstar. But the frustrating thing is you find yourself with this gift, like a pot of gold and I can't carry it, it's too heavy."
Armas' role with the Red Devils was his first post since being sacked by Toronto in 2021, having also struggled to assert himself as manager of New York Red Bulls over two years previously. As a player, he enjoyed a stellar career in Major League Soccer.
Nine years with Chicago Fire - where he was made captain - saw Armas partner Marsch in midfield, winning the MLS Cup in 1998 and the Supporters Shield five years later, as well as enjoying three US Open Cup triumphs. The pair's long-standing relationship, which was strengthened in New York as coaches, prompted Marsch to bring his compatriot to Leeds in January amid what proved to be fatal run of no wins in seven league games.
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"We played together for eight years, we coached together for three and a half," Marsch said of Armas shortly after his appointment. "The respect I have for him as a person and a football mind is at a very high level and he's one of the best people I have ever met in this business.
"He's already had a positive impact. I've seen him have a lot of little conversations around the training ground to get to know our guys because that's one of the things he's really good at."
Leeds fans will be hoping that March's pal can help pull together an underperforming squad and produce a shock win at Old Trafford.
