Chris Armas sidelined from Javi Gracia’s new Leeds United backroom team - The Athletic 9/3/23
By Phil Hay
Chris Armas has been sidelined from Javi Gracia’s new
backroom staff at Leeds United, just weeks after joining the club.
Leeds appointed the former Manchester United assistant coach
as a No. 2 under former boss Jesse Marsch at the end of January, with Armas
working alongside Rene Maric.
But The Athletic reported last week that his future remained
unclear and Gracia has confirmed that the former USMNT international will not
be part of his team.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Leeds’ home game
against Brighton on Saturday, Gracia confirmed: “He’s not part of my staff.
He’s not here. It’s something the club can maybe explain better.”
Armas, who previously worked with Marsch from 2015 to 2018
when the latter was head coach of New York Red Bulls, remains on the Elland
Road club’s books for now.
But Gracia’s comments suggest his short spell in West
Yorkshire will likely soon come to an end.
Maric left Leeds after Marsch was sacked at the start of
February.
Gracia has since appointed Zigor Aranalde, Mikel Antia and
Juan Jose Solla to his backroom staff, with Michael Skubala — who oversaw games
against Manchester United and Everton as caretaker — remaining in the
first-team setup.