York9 FC announced on Friday that they’ve signed coach Jimmy Brennan to a contract extension the through 2021 Canadian Premier League season, with a club option for 2022.

Brennan was named the first coach in team history in July 2018, after he was revealed as a founding partner of the club at its unveiling in York Region.

The 42-year-old Toronto native led York9 to a third-place overall finish in their inaugural season, with a record of nine wins, seven draws, and 12 losses.

He also saw York9 through to the third round of the Canadian Championship, beating AS Blainville and FC Edmonton en route to a very close-fought encounter with the Montreal Impact in the quarter-finals.

“Coming into a new league last year with a completely new squad was a fantastic challenge,” Brennan said in a statement. “I really enjoyed working with our boys and putting some positive results together as a unit.

“Our goal here is to win championships, and we’ve got ourselves a fantastic core that we’ve now added significant pieces to take us over the top. With a season under our belt, I’m excited with what’s ahead, and the opportunity to push ourselves as far as we can go.”

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Brennan was one of three CPL coaches nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2019 Awards, having made an impression by putting together a team with an impressive passing ability and possession-based game.

The York9 boss as spent his off-season acquiring a UEFA Pro License in coaching, the top certification in Europe’s footballing body.

“Jimmy is a winner,” York9 managing consultant Angus McNab said. “He proved it in his playing career, and I have every confidence he can build a legacy and establish the club as the perennial championship contender that our fans and the Baldassarra family deserve.

“It was an easy decision to extend his contract. I love that when he discusses what he’s looking to achieve, it’s all about winning titles; I believe he is the guy to lead our players and to achieve that.”

As a player, Brennan spent much of his career in England for such clubs as Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, and Southampton. He was also the first captain in Toronto FC history, having signed there in 2007.

Brennan also earned 49 caps for the Canadian national team, winning the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup as well as the 1999 Canadian Player of the Year award.