Chris Armas on what he will bring to KC Current & NWSL | Inside Gotham's FIFA Women's Champions Cup preparations
Full Time: A show about women's soccer
The Athletic
4.8 • 807 Ratings
🗓️ 19 January 2026
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After a record-breaking season, the Kansas City Current made a shock head coaching switch and in came Chris Armas for his first-ever job in professional women's soccer. So, who is this U.S. men's national team Hall of Famer turned MLS coach who has scored one of the biggest club jobs in the women's game?
On this episode of Full Time, host Jilian Sakovits sits down for a personal one-on-one interview with Armas to discuss his journey to Kansas City and the NWSL. How does he view himself as an elite coach with a lot to learn about the league and his players? Why did he take the position? Is he aware of his position as an "outsider"? How will Armas and former head coach turned global sporting director Vlatko Andonovski collaborate?
After that, it's time to go from one 2025 NWSL trophy winner to another. Theo Lloyd-Hughes caught up with Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amoros from the team's preseason camp in Spain. After a brief 41-day offseason, the reigning NWSL Champions are back together and preparing for the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup and what could be 42 games in 10 months in 2026.
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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Theo Lloyd-Hughes
GUESTS: Chris Armas, Juan Carlos Amoros
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Referenced on the show:
KC Current coach says timing of NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga’s return ‘still unclear’
Former USMNT midfielder Chris Armas named Kansas City Current head coach
NWSL releases 2026 schedule: Challenge Cup changes, Rivalry Week and men’s World Cup impact
Gotham FC get NWSL Championship celebrations right second time around
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm the outsider. |
| 0:04.3 | We're all outsiders at different times. |
| 0:06.1 | I was an outsider to MLS at one point and people are like, oh, who are you? |
| 0:09.4 | And just curious, like if they bring a coach, if the NWSL or team hires or a coach from |
| 0:15.1 | Europe, a male coach call it from Europe, is that they considered? |
| 0:18.5 | Or is it because I came from MLS? |
| 0:20.9 | I wonder. I'm not aware so much. I've heard a little Or is it because I came from MLS? I wonder. |
| 0:21.5 | I'm not aware so much. |
| 0:23.3 | I've heard a little bit of it. |
| 0:24.7 | I'm not a big social media. |
| 0:26.3 | I'm trying to be up to speed on things. |
| 0:36.6 | Hello, everybody. A very warm welcome to this edition of full-time. |
| 0:41.0 | I'm your host, Jillian Zackavits, in 2025, the Kansas City Current, |
| 0:44.9 | where the team to beat shattering NWSL records with a high-press offense, |
| 0:51.1 | stingy and organized defense, and goal scoring exploits from two-time |
| 0:55.5 | NWSL MVP, Temwa Shwinga. |
| 0:58.5 | The current topped the standings and when their first ever NWSL shield. |
| 1:02.0 | And despite all of that, their head coach, Vlad Goyan Dinovsky, stepped away from his duties |
| 1:06.5 | as manager and into a new role as global sporting director. |
| 1:11.4 | Now enter into the fold, new head coach for the Kansas City current Hall of Famer Chris Armis. |
| 1:17.0 | On the show today, we're going to be joined by Armis to get to know his plans for this team, |
| 1:22.3 | why he felt that Kansas City was, quote, special, his plans on the pitch and how he can't wait to be a, quote, |
... |
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