Fire's Armas calls it a career

Soccer Betting Lines

11/13/2007 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran Chicago Fire midfielder and captain Chris Armas announced his retirement Tuesday 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 the home of the Fire, Toyota Park.

"I really felt proud to be part of this team, just as much as any other time in my career," Armas said of the current roster. "I have total belief in what we have going here, a real honest approach to the game. 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."

"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, Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "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."

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 also led the team 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).

"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," Fire forward Chris Rolfe said. "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."

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 U.S. 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 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 Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis and Eddie Pope.

"I feel very proud to be there from the beginning of MLS," Armas said. "I have been fortunate to watch this league grow and thrive and feel very proud to be part of this journey."

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