MLS: Top 5 full-backs in the league right now
By Matt Coles
3. Jorge Villafana
The first of two Timbers stars to make our list of the best current full-backs in the American top-flight is a USMNT international who is in his second stint with the franchise, Jorge Villafana.
The American is the first left-back to make our list, having won the reality show Sueno MLS, which led to a try-out with an MLS side. This followed on from a four-year spell with Santa Ana DSP Juventus during his youth career.
MLS Career & Honours:
- Chivas USA (2007-2013)
- Portland Timbers (2014-2015, 2018-)
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- MLS Cup – 2015
- CONCACAF Gold Cup – 2017
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The defender signed his first professional contract in July 2007, joining up with Chivas USA, and he went on to make his debut the following week, scoring the winning goal against Colorado Rapids to get his MLS career off to the perfect start.
After being unable to really breakthrough for his first few seasons, Villafana started 24 times in the 2011 campaign, adding a goal and an assist to his tally, but he would only play for the franchise for two more years, before being traded to the Portland Timbers.
In his first stint with the club, he was a key part of their MLS Cup-winning side, as they defeated Columbus Crew 2-1 in the MLS Cup final in December 2015. The defender played all 90 minutes of the final, having started every single game of their post-season run, as he captured the first major title of his career.
He left the club to join Santos Laguna following the victory, and recorded a Liga MX triumph with the Mexican side, before re-signing with Portland midway through the 2008 campaign, where he became the first-choice left-back for the club once more.
The American topped the charts in tackles per 90 minutes, and tackles per every 30 opposition possessions during the 2019 campaign, whilst also averaging around 4 crosses into the opposition box per match, showing his prowess at both ends of the field as a truly industrial full-back.