More Than the Armband: Javier Armas Leading On and Off the Field for ATLUTD 2

Javier Armas had an eventful first season with the Five Stripes. He made history with Atlanta United becoming the first player to play in every single minute of a season in 2024. By the way, that's 2,520 minutes over 28 matches.

"That the season is too long. That's the first one," Armas laughed when asked about the biggest things he learned from his first year as a pro. "I mean, coming from college, sometimes you kind of forget how long the season is and how important every game is and how many opportunities you have during the season."

Armas was selected by Atlanta as the No. 48 overall pick out of Oregon State in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. In his first season as a pro, he was given the captains armband, but wearing the armband isn't new for the La Coruña native.

The 25-year-old has worn the armband for most of his playing career, and as he has evolved not only as a player, but as a leader both on and off the field.

"I think at the beginning I tend to be more selfish. You know, it was like, okay, I'm a captain, so I have to say everything that has to be done and I have to tell people what to do and almost people has to serve more than I do," said Armas on his evolution as a captain. "Then, I evolve more of like, okay, I'm the captain. I am the first that have to live by example, and I'm the first that has to like serve other people. I think the switch of mentality from being served just to serve other people. I think that was the biggest difference."

As he matured, so did his faith—both guiding his path forward to be the player and leader he is today.

"I think it was like maturing for sure, and when I became a Christian too. I learned about God, about Christian values and who Jesus was and how he served other people too, even he was like the most important person, God, in the world," said Armas. "I want to be like him, so I want to serve other people too."

Faith isn’t just part of his life off the field—it’s something that’s shaped the way he plays, leads, and grows in the game.

"When I was young, soccer was my life, and soccer was my identity. I was like a soccer player. Now, I know I'm not a soccer player. My identity is not in soccer, but in Jesus. I know that that gives me so much. It takes pressure out of me, you know, and makes me play more free and knowing that this is not everything," said Armas.

"I learned also a good sentence by Ronald Hernandez, when we talk about our Bible studies, he say 'Soccer is the most important thing of the last important things.' Soccer is so important, but it's not that important anymore, so it makes me play better with less pressure. It's like, okay, let's enjoy this. This is not everything."

As ATLUTD 2 navigates a new season, their captain is showing what it really means to lead in every sense of the word.

When everyone came together for the start of preseason, La Coruña native knew that they had something special.

"I actually had a very good feeling at the beginning of the season. I had that feeling that, wow, you could feel from the first day that the culture, it was going to be amazing," professed Armas. "Everyone's gonna to be on the same page and now, once we translate that into the field, and we start winning games and doing like that, we're gonna be unstoppable."

This connection doesn't end on the field, it is also seen off the field as well. Armas has the team over to his and his wife's house for dinner to connect outside of the pitch.

"I do everything with my wife. I love it. I host, I cook too. I love to cook from scratch. Me and my wife, we cook every day from scratch usually. I learned that tradition from Spain too, and now that is good weather. I can start making Paella. I love it. It's a great thing just to be all together, and I think if we have those connections outside the field, that in the field is gonna be so much better."

This is his favorite meal to make. In Spain, Paella is not just a meal, but a social event. It brings people together.

"It's not only the food, but it's like all together. If I cook Paella, you are not gonna come to my house and sit when the food is ready. You know you're gonna come when I'm cooking," said Armas. "We're gonna talk, listen to some music, do it all together, and it's more like a thing, not for the food, but for what it means, you know, for all together."

This new tradition also includes a weekly Bible study and a different player on the team cooks for the group. It's all about bringing the whole team together, and helping improve some cooking skills as well.

"On Tuesdays we do some Bible study with the team. From now on, one different guy is gonna cook that week. For example, next week Nyk [Sessock]'s gonna come to my house, we're gonna cook together, and then this week is gonna be like Moises and Ronny," said Armas.

"I would say Moises , for sure. I gotta teach him. That's why he has to come, and I will teach him how to cook," Armas laughed when asked who needs a little more work in the kitchen.

Atlanta United 2 is coming off of a difficult 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union II on the road on April 10. After a 12 day hiatus, the 2's are back at the Proving Ground to host Carolina Core.

Armas said at the beginning of the interview that the seasons are long, but this is something that has helped him realize that one game doesn't define your season.

"This game cannot dictate the rest of the season. You know, we have to move on like, keep building the team, keep improving, knowing that if we win this game, it's gonna be so important too. So, learn how to move on from game to game," said Armas.

Something that Head Coach Steve Cooke and many other players have said that this group has connected very quickly on and off the field. There are a few things that need to be improved, but like el capitán said, the season is long and the 2's are just getting started.

Listen to Madison Crews' full interview Captain Javier Armas down below!