Jorge Villafaña Explained

Jorge Villafaña should not be confused with Jorge Flores (soccer).

Jorge Villafaña
Fullname:Jorge Antonio Flores Villafaña
Birth Date:16 September 1989
Birth Place:Anaheim, California, United States
Height:[1]
Position:Left-back
Youthyears1:2004–2007
Youthclubs1:Santa Ana DSP Juventus
Youthyears2:2007
Youthclubs2:Chivas USA
Years1:2007–2013
Clubs1:Chivas USA
Caps1:86
Goals1:7
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Portland Timbers
Caps2:52
Goals2:2
Years3:2016–2018
Clubs3:Santos Laguna
Caps3:60
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:Portland Timbers
Caps4:50
Goals4:1
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:LA Galaxy
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:269
Totalgoals:10
Nationalyears1:2007–2009
Nationalteam1:United States U20
Nationalcaps1:15
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:United States U23
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2017–2018
Nationalteam3:United States
Nationalcaps3:21
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:2024–
Managerclubs1:PDX FC
Pcupdate:September 26, 2021
Ntupdate:November 20, 2018

Jorge Antonio Flores Villafaña (born September 16, 1989) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left-back. He is currently the head coach for PDX FC.

Career

Youth

Villafaña spent part of his childhood in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Mexico before returning to the United States for high school. He attended Anaheim High School and became captain of the soccer team. In March 2007, Villafaña won Sueño MLS, a reality show that led to a try-out with Major League Soccer. His reality show win earned him the nickname "Sueño".[2] Villafaña beat out around 2,000 other competitors to earn a spot on Chivas USA's U-19 squad.

Professional

Villafaña was signed by Chivas USA to a professional contract in July 2007.[3] He made his only appearance of the season as a substitute in a 3–0 win over New York Red Bulls. He scored in 2008 season debut against D.C. United as a substitute.[4] Villafaña made his first career start the following week against the Colorado Rapids and scored on a glancing header to seal the game for Chivas USA.[5] Villafaña scored again the following week against the Columbus Crew.[6] While with Chivas USA, Villafaña appeared in 86 league matches and scored 7 goals.

After the 2013 season, Villafaña was traded to the Portland Timbers.[7] He would make 50 starts over two seasons with the Timbers. The Timbers won 2015 MLS Cup; Villafaña's performance in that victory was highlighted as strong by several analysts and commentators.[8] [9] [10]

Following the triumph, Villafaña was sold to Liga MX club Santos Laguna for a reported fee of just under $1 million.[11] [12]

On August 8, 2018, Villafaña was re-acquired by the Portland Timbers.[13]

On January 12, 2021, Villafaña was traded to LA Galaxy.[14]

On April 18, 2024, Jorge officially announces his retirement across his social media platforms.

International

In 2007, Villafaña was called up for the United States U-20 for its trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina from November 23 to December 3.[15] The team was part of an 11-day training camp with the U-20 squads of Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Villafaña played in all three of the U.S. games during the trip. A game tying assist against River Plate's reserves[16] and a game-tying goal against the Argentina national under-20 team[17] helped earn him the honor of team captain.

Villafaña appeared in all three of the U.S. games at the 2008 Campos Verde International in Beja, Portugal.[18] Villafaña scored his second international goal against the Bolton Wanderers Reserves in a 2–0 win in Bolton, England on May 7, 2008.[19] He assisted a goal in the U.S. 2–1 win over the Manchester United Reserves the following day.[20]

On January 29, 2017, Villafaña made his full United States debut in a friendly against Serbia. He went on to establish himself as the USMNT's first-choice left back for the unsuccessful 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. On March 25, he was cap-tied to the United States in a World Cup qualifying match against Honduras.[21] In July 2017 he helped the USMNT win the CONCACAF Gold Cup with his play in several games, including starts in the semifinal 2–0 win over Costa Rica and the final 2–1 win over Jamaica.[22] [23]

Coaching

Villafaña was named head coach for the PDX FC men's team in February 2024.[24] [25]

Personal life

In November 2011, Villafaña changed his name from "Jorge Flores" to "Jorge Villafaña" opting to take his mother's maiden name as his last name.[26]

On May 17, 2018, Jorge and his wife were robbed of over US$20,000 in a shopping mall after exchanging currency after the first leg of the 2018 Liga MX final.[27]

Honors

Portland Timbers

2015[28]

2020[30]

Santos Laguna

Clausura 2018

United States U20

2009

United States

2017[31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jorge Villafaña . 20 August 2022 . LA Galaxy.
  2. News: From Nowhere to M.L.S., It's All Sueño . New York Times . Billy . Witz . June 6, 2008 . C11 .
  3. Web site: Flores signs with Chivas USA . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080602171816/http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070726&content_id=108090&vkey=pr_cdc&fext=.jsp&team=t120 . June 2, 2008 .
  4. Web site: First MLS Goal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080521081148/http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080518&content_id=158834&vkey=news_cdc&fext=.jsp&team=t120 . May 21, 2008 .
  5. Web site: Flores strikes again . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917183844/http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080525&content_id=160610&vkey=news_cdc&fext=.jsp&team=t120 . September 17, 2008 .
  6. Web site: Villafaña makes it three goals in three games . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917183849/http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080601&content_id=162490&vkey=news_cdc&fext=.jsp&team=t120 . September 17, 2008 .
  7. Web site: Portland Timbers acquire Jorge Villafana, No. 2 selection in Re-Entry process from Chivas USA in exchange for Andrew Jean-Baptiste, No. 17 Re-Entry pick. December 12, 2013. April 13, 2018. September 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180915155157/https://www.timbers.com/post/2013/12/12/portland-timbers-acquire-jorge-villafana-no-2-selection-re-entry-process-chivas-usa. dead.
  8. Web site: SBI MLS Cup Final Man of the Match: Jorge Villafana. SBI Soccer. December 7, 2015.
  9. Web site: ASN article: Jorge Villafana's Brilliant Cup Effort Raises His Profile.
  10. Web site: 2015 MLS Cup Player Ratings: Jorge Villafaña turns in a dream performance for the victorious Portland Timbers. MLSsoccer.com.
  11. Web site: Insider: Carlos Vela, Fabian Castillo, Jorge Villafana; USWNT. Grant Wahl. December 8, 2015.
  12. Web site: Portland Timbers transfer Jorge Villafaña to Liga MX club Santos Laguna. Portland Timbers. December 11, 2015. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130416/http://www.timbers.com/post/2015/12/11/portland-timbers-transfer-jorge-villafa%C3%B1a-liga-mx-club-santos-laguna. dead.
  13. Web site: Portland Timbers acquire U.S. international defender Jorge Villafaña from Liga MX side Santos Laguna. Portland Timbers.
  14. Web site: LA Galaxy acquire defender Jorge Villafaña | LA Galaxy.
  15. Web site: U.S. U-20 MNT Headed to Argentina. www.ussoccer.com. November 19, 2007.
  16. Web site: U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team Draws River Plate in Buenos Aires. www.ussoccer.com. November 27, 2007.
  17. Web site: U.S. Under-20 MNT Draws Argentina in Buenos Aires. www.ussoccer.com. November 29, 2007.
  18. Web site: U-20 MNT Set for Trip to Campos Verde International Tournament in Portugal. www.ussoccer.com. April 7, 2008.
  19. Web site: Garcia Sets up Two Goals as U-20 MNT Tops Bolton Reserves. www.ussoccer.com. May 7, 2008.
  20. Web site: U.S. Under-20 MNT Tops Manchester United Reserves, Pick Up Second Win in England. www.ussoccer.com. May 8, 2008.
  21. Web site: JORGE VILLAFAÑA ON THE RISE FOR MNT AND SANTOS LAGUNA. U.S. Soccer.
  22. Web site: 2017-07-22 . CONCACAF 2017 Gold Cup Game Details . 2022-08-16 . CONCACAF.
  23. Web site: 2017-07-26 . CONCACAF 2017 Gold Cup Game Details . 2022-08-16 . CONCACAF.
  24. Web site: Jorge Villafana joins PDX FC as the club's new men's team head coach . PDXFC.com . . 30 May 2024.
  25. Web site: Former US Men’s National Team Defender Jorge Villafaña Named Head Coach PDX FC (Portland, OR) . UPSL.com . . 30 May 2024.
  26. Web site: CHIVAS USA: Meet Jorge Villafaña. ESPN.com. December 9, 2011.
  27. Web site: U.S., Santos Laguna's Jorge Villafana robbed of $20,000 at gunpoint. 19 May 2018. 19 May 2018. ESPN FC.
  28. Web site: Portland Timbers lift first ever MLS Cup title, beating Columbus Crew 2-1 - SBNation.com. Kevin McCauley. December 7, 2015. Vox Media. SBNation.com.
  29. Web site: Portland Timbers become first Cascadia club to reach the MLS Cup: "We want to win the big one". MLSsoccer.com.
  30. Web site: Dario Zuparic goal clinches MLS Back is Tournament for Portland Timbers. The Guardian. August 12, 2020. August 12, 2020.
  31. Web site: U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup. July 26, 2017. USA Today. July 5, 2023.