Chicago Fire's Chris Armas Retires

The Chicago Fire's Chris Armas officially announced his retirement today, concluding a 12-year career in Major League Soccer. Armas, who had said at the beginning of the season that he intended to retire, played his final match in the play-off loss to the New England Revolution last Thursday.

Armas played with the Los Angeles Galaxy in the league's inaugural season and in 1997 before coming to the Chicago Fire when the league expanded in 1998. That same year, Armas helped the Fire earn an MLS Cup Championship. During Armas's time with the Fire they also won four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006).

Chicagoist will miss Armas and his stellar work ethic and great leadership. Fire defender C.J. Brown, who has also been with the team since 1998, commented on Armas, "You know that if you’re going into a fight, he is going to be right there with you."