York United FC assistant coach Mauro Eustaquio takes part in a training session at York Lions Stadium, in Toronto, on June 8.Denys Rudenko/The Canadian Press
York United FC has promoted assistant coach Mauro Eustaquio to head coach, filling the void left by Mexican Benjamin Mora’s departure.
Mora, a finalist for Canadian Premier League coach of the year, left the club earlier this month after five months and 22 matches at the helm. He said he had been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.
The coaching change came one day after Cavalry FC’s 2-1 win over Forge FC in the CPL championship game in Calgary.
York’s new Mexican ownership group fired former Canadian international Martin Nash as coach May 21 with the club sitting fifth at 2-3-1. The 31-year-old Eustaquio, the older brother of Canadian international Stephen Eustaquio, took the helm until Mora was put in charge and made his debut on the sidelines June 9 in a 2-2 tie with visiting Vancouver FC.
Mora led York to fourth place in the standings at 11-11-6. York’s 39 points were a franchise record, surpassing the previous best of 38 set in 2023.
York clinched a playoff spot with three weeks to spare this season, defeating Pacific FC 2-0 in the fourth-versus-fifth playoff – its first ever post-season victory – before falling to No. 3 Atletico Ottawa in a penalty shootout in the Oct. 27 quarter-final.