Jorge Villafaña

Jorge Antonio Flores Villafaña (born September 16, 1989) is an American soccer player who plays for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer and for the United States national team.

Not to be confused with Jorge Flores (soccer).

Jorge Villafaña
Personal information
Full name Jorge Antonio Flores Villafaña
Date of birth (1989-09-16) September 16, 1989
Place of birth Anaheim, California, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Left-back
Club information
Current team
 LA Galaxy
Youth career
2004–2007 Santa Ana DSP Juventus
2007 Chivas USA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2013 Chivas USA 86 (7)
2014–2015 Portland Timbers 52 (2)
2016–2018 Santos Laguna 60 (0)
2018–2020 Portland Timbers 50 (1)
2021– LA Galaxy 0 (0)
National team‡
2007–2009 United States U20 15 (1)
2012 United States U23 2 (0)
2017–2018 United States 21 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of November 20, 2018

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".[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Villafaña scored again the following week against the Columbus Crew.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8][9]

Following the triumph, Villafaña was sold to Liga MX club Santos Laguna for a reported fee of just under $1 million.[10][11]

On August 8, 2018, Villafaña was re-acquired by the Portland Timbers.[12]

On January 12, 2021, Villafaña was traded to LA Galaxy.[13]

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.[14] 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 USA's games during the trip. A game tying assist against River Plate's reserves[15] and a game-tying goal against the Argentina national under-20 football team[16] helped earn him the honor of team captain.

Villafaña appeared in all three of the USA's games at the 2008 Campos Verde International in Beja, Portugal.[17] Villafaña scored his second international goal against the Bolton Wanderers Reserves in a 2–0 win in Bolton, England on May 7, 2008.[18] He assisted a goal in the USA's 2–1 win over the Manchester United Reserves the following day.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21]

On May 17, 2018, Jorge and his wife were robbed of over $20,000 USD in a shopping mall after exchanging currency after the first leg of the 2018 Liga MX final.[22]

Honors

United States

Club
Portland Timbers
Santos Laguna

See also

References
  1. Witz, Billy (June 6, 2008). "From Nowhere to M.L.S., It's All Sueño". New York Times. p. C11.
  2. "Flores signs with Chivas USA". Archived from the original on June 2, 2008.
  3. "First MLS Goal". Archived from the original on May 21, 2008.
  4. "Flores strikes again". Archived from the original on September 17, 2008.
  5. "Villafaña makes it three goals in three games". Archived from the original on September 17, 2008.
  6. "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.
  7. "SBI MLS Cup Final Man of the Match: Jorge Villafana". SBI Soccer.
  8. "ASN article: Jorge Villafana's Brilliant Cup Effort Raises His Profile".
  9. "2015 MLS Cup Player Ratings: Jorge Villafaña turns in a dream performance for the victorious Portland Timbers". MLSsoccer.com.
  10. Grant Wahl (December 8, 2015). "Insider: Carlos Vela, Fabian Castillo, Jorge Villafana; USWNT".
  11. "Portland Timbers transfer Jorge Villafaña to Liga MX club Santos Laguna". Portland Timbers.
  12. "Portland Timbers acquire U.S. international defender Jorge Villafaña from Liga MX side Santos Laguna". Portland Timbers.
  13. https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2021/01/12/la-galaxy-acquire-defender-jorge-villafa
  14. "U.S. U-20 MNT Headed to Argentina". www.ussoccer.com. November 19, 2007.
  15. "U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team Draws River Plate in Buenos Aires". www.ussoccer.com. November 27, 2007.
  16. "U.S. Under-20 MNT Draws Argentina in Buenos Aires". www.ussoccer.com. November 29, 2007.
  17. "U-20 MNT Set for Trip to Campos Verde International Tournament in Portugal". www.ussoccer.com. April 7, 2008.
  18. "Garcia Sets up Two Goals as U-20 MNT Tops Bolton Reserves". www.ussoccer.com. May 7, 2008.
  19. "U.S. Under-20 MNT Tops Manchester United Reserves, Pick Up Second Win in England". www.ussoccer.com. May 8, 2008.
  20. "JORGE VILLAFAÑA ON THE RISE FOR MNT AND SANTOS LAGUNA". U.S. Soccer.
  21. "CHIVAS USA: Meet Jorge Villafaña". ESPN.com.
  22. "U.S., Santos Laguna's Jorge Villafana robbed of $20,000 at gunpoint". ESPN FC. May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  23. Kevin McCauley (December 7, 2015). "Portland Timbers lift first ever MLS Cup title, beating Columbus Crew 2-1 - SBNation.com". SBNation.com. Vox Media.
  24. "Portland Timbers become first Cascadia club to reach the MLS Cup: "We want to win the big one"". MLSsoccer.com.
  25. "Dario Zuparic goal clinches MLS Back is Tournament for Portland Timbers". The Guardian. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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