Then-New York Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas looks on from the sideline during the second half of an MLS soccer match on July 14, 2019, in Harrison, N.J.The Associated Press
New Toronto FC coach Chris Armas named his coaching staff Wednesday, with goalkeeper coach Jon Conway the lone holdover from Greg Vanney’s era.
Conway is joined by Javier Perez, Ian Russell and Ewan Sharp.
The 48-year-old Armas was named the franchise’s 10th head coach on Jan. 13, filling the void left by Vanney’s resignation. Vanney is now running the Los Angeles Galaxy, taking assistant coaches Dan Calichman, Nick Theslof and Canadian Jason Bent with him.
Perez spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with New York City FC. Prior to that the Spanish native spent four years with U.S. Soccer, serving as head coach of the men’s under-18 team and assistant coach with both the U.S. men’s senior and under-20 squads.
He was part of the senior men’s staff at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the U-20 squad at the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand. Prior to going to the U.S. in 2007, Perez spent six years at Real Madrid as head coach for youth teams from under-nine to under-19.
Russell spent the past four seasons as head coach of the USL’s Reno 1868 FC, earning USL Championship coach of the year honours last year when his team won the USL Supporters Shield.
Prior to Reno 1868, he spent 2008 to 2016 as an assistant coach with the San Jose Earthquakes. As a player, Russell spent six seasons with the Earthquakes, winning two MLS Cups (2001, 2003) and one Supporters Shield title (2005). He ended his playing career in 2007 with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Sharp spent the past four seasons as a performance analyst with the New York Red Bulls.
Conway begins his eighth season with TFC. He joined the first-team staff in August, 2014, after spending the previous two seasons as goalkeeper head coach with the Toronto FC academy.