Joe Cannon (soccer)

Joseph Cannon (born January 1, 1975) is an American former professional soccer player. He spent the majority of his 16 professional seasons playing in Major League Soccer. His 86 MLS career shutouts rank him fourth in league history. He won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award twice (2002, 2004), and finished runner-up for the award three times (2000, 2001, 2005).

He also earned two caps in friendlies with the United States men's national soccer team.

Early life and education

Cannon was born January 1, 1975, in Sun Valley, Idaho, to Barbara and Joe Cannon.<ref name='usatoday'>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a child, he was raised in both Sun Valley, Idaho and Los Altos Hills, California.<ref name='ime'>Template:Cite news</ref> He attended Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum, Idaho, before moving permanently to California at age 12.<ref name='ime'/> In California, he played high school soccer for Saint Francis High School.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Cannon attended college at the University of California, Santa Barbara for his first year and was a student-athlete on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team. He played 11 games for the Gauchos in 1993 and recorded 3 shutouts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He later transferred to Santa Clara University where he played for the Broncos from 1995 to 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He graduated with a degree in political science.<ref name='ime'/>

Playing career

San Diego Flash and San Jose Earthquakes

Cannon was not drafted by a Major League Soccer team and instead signed with the San Diego Flash of the A-League in 1998. He appeared in 28 games, posting 11 shutouts, en route to being named the Flash's Most Valuable Player.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name='sasj'>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

After a season with the Flash, he was signed by Major League Soccer team San Jose Earthquakes.<ref name='sasj'/> After starting goalkeeper David Kramer tore the labrum in his shoulder, Cannon was promoted to the first team for the Quakes.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He remained as the starter until 2002, leading San Jose to victory in MLS Cup 2001 and winning his first MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2002.<ref name='ime'/>

French foray and return to MLS

Cannon's Major League Soccer contract expired following the 2002 season and he attempted to play for a European team.<ref name='sagoodkeep'>Template:Cite magazine</ref> After an unsuccessful trial with Feyenoord, he signed a six-month contract with RC Lens of France's Ligue 1.<ref name="sbi">Template:Cite web</ref> He was behind Charles Itandje in the Lens side and was not able to break into the first team.<ref name='sbi'/>

Meanwhile, in MLS, the Earthquakes traded the rights to Cannon to the Colorado Rapids for three draft picks—a first-round 2004 pick, and third and fourth-round 2005 picks—and Cannon returned to play in America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

I don't care whether they bring in Joe Cannon or Jeff Bazooka or Jim Tommygun ... I don't need anyone to push me.{{#if:|

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I don't care if it's Scott Garlick, Scott Salt or Scott Pepper. I'm very confident in my abilities. I can compete for the job anywhere, and may the best man win.{{#if:|

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Cannon was initially behind incumbent goalkeeper Scott Garlick, but Rapids coach Tim Hankinson controversially promoted Cannon into the starting role for the 2003 playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although Colorado did not advance, Garlick was traded to the Dallas Burn and Cannon kept his starting position.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The following season in 2004, Cannon won his second MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in addition to being named to the MLS Best XI and as a finalist for the MLS Most Valuable Player Award.<ref name='ime'/>

In December 2006, Cannon was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy for Herculez Gomez and Ugo Ihemelu.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his Galaxy debut on April 8, 2007, in a 0–0 tie with the Houston Dynamo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He spent one season with the club.

Later career

Cannon returned to the Earthquakes via trade with the Galaxy for allocation money in January 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He spent three seasons with the club.

Cannon was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He re-signed with Vancouver for the 2012 Major League Soccer season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cannon retired following the 2013 Major League Soccer season.

Cannon with Vancouver Whitecaps FC

International career

Cannon earned two caps with the United States men's national soccer team. His first cap came against New Zealand in 2003 where he played the first half of a 2–1 win. In 2004 he was called into several U.S. camps without gaining any game time. In 2005 he won his second cap, playing the first half of a friendly against Honduras.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cannon's grandfather and father are Canadian, which made him eligible for the Canada men's national soccer team.<ref name="sbi2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Post-playing career

In March 2014, Cannon was announced as a color commentator for San Jose Earthquakes radio broadcasts on KLIV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Cannon has a twin brother, Jon, who was a minor-league baseball pitcher.<ref name='usatoday'/> He has two other brothers, Cody and Colt.<ref name='usatoday'/> His father, Joe Cannon Sr., was a country-western singer.<ref name='usatoday'/>

Career statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Colorado Rapids	2003	MLS	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2004	MLS	32	0	0	0	0	0	32	0
	2005	MLS	30	0	0	0	0	0	30	0
	2006	MLS	30	0	0	0	0	0	30	0
	Total		94	0	0	0	0	0	94	0
LA Galaxy	2007	MLS	34	0	0	0	0	0	34	0
	Total		34	0	0	0	0	0	34	0
San Jose Earthquakes	2008	MLS	30	0	0	0	0	0	30	0
	2009	MLS	28	0	0	0	0	0	28	0
	2010	MLS	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
	Total		70	0	0	0	0	0	70	0
Vancouver Whitecaps	2011	MLS	20	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
	2012	MLS	26	0	0	0	0	0	26	0
	2013	MLS	10	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
	Total		56	0	0	0	0	0	56	0
Career total			254	0	0	0	0	0	254	0

Awards and honors

Club

San Jose Earthquakes

• MLS Cup: 2001

Individual

• MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: 2002, 2004
• MLS Best XI: 2004

External links

• Template:MLS player
• US Soccer Players player profile
• Template:Twitter
• Template:FIFA player