‘His Ambition Matches Ours’: York United Promotes Villalpando To GM Role

After spending a season as York United’s technical and sporting director, the club is promoting Jorge Villalpando to be its general manager, effectively immediately.

The 39-year-old Mexican – who once coached Tlaxcala FC – arrived to the club last January, taking charge of the club’s scouting and player recruitment as the Pasquel Brothers headed into their first season as owners of the Nine Stripes.

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It was under Villalpando’s watch that the club signed sixteen-year-old Shola Jimoh to a multi-year Exceptional Young Talent contract, with the former Liga MX goalkeeper also bringing in Silviu Butnaru as the club’s director of scouting an development, with the club now set to run a League1 Ontario-based academy side.

The 2024 Nine Stripes roster proved to be highly competitive, finishing fourth in league standings to earn the club its first-ever home playoff match in the postseason. Several of the club’s international arrivals hailed from Mexico, where Villalpando was smart to utilize his connections. York United also established a formal partnership with CF Monterrey.

As the York United General Manager, Jorge will manage day-to-day club operations with a strong emphasis of playing and technical staff, though he will continue to help with player recruitment and scouting, too.

YUFC President Ricardo Pasquel had previously donned the GM role, before which Angus McNab had held the position. McNab left the club as its sale to the current owners was finalized.

“Jorge’s commitment to the club has been exemplary since he’s joined,” adds Ricardo Pasquel. “His work on the scouting and recruitment side, and how we’ve steadily built up our networking- locally, nationally and internationally – is clear for all to see. His ambition matches ours. He’s a leader and wishes to push the club to the next level. We’re excited to watch Jorge deliver in this elevated role and York United FC will continue to benefit greatly from his passion and expertise.”

The Nine Stripes executive holds an MBA in Sports Management from Valencia’s European Sport Business School, which came after he completed a BA in Mexico’s own Universidad del Distrito Federal.

Prior to that, Villalpando played for numerous clubs in Mexico, but is most well-known for his spells with Liga MX side Club Puebla.

York United is coming off of a club record campaign that saw now-departed head coach Benjamin Mora lead the side to playoffs, where the Nine Stripes recorded their first-ever home playoff win before falling to Atletico Ottawa on the road.