George Gjokaj

Role

Founding President and Director of Soccer Operations, FC Westchester (since 1997). As of November 2025, also named Head Coach and Sporting Director of Westchester SC (USL League One professional team), while continuing FC Westchester club leadership.

Background

Gjokaj has led FC Westchester since its founding in 1997, building it into one of the most prominent youth clubs in the northeastern United States and a founding member of MLS NEXT. He has coached and mentored a continuous pipeline of professional-pathway and college-level players over nearly three decades. Also serves as Co-Chairman of the MLS NEXT Northeast Region (since June 2021) and Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Purchase College, SUNY (since August 2021).

Connections

• fc-westchester — primary organization
• westchester-sc — affiliated professional club (sporting director / head coach)
• new-york — market

Context

Gjokaj is one of the most tenured figures in New York-area youth soccer. His simultaneous leadership of an elite youth club and a professional USL team reflects the “club to pro pathway” model that MLS NEXT was designed to formalize.