Profile:
A goalkeeper with over a decade's worth of experience in Major League Soccer, Joe Cannon joined Whitecaps FC after being selected in the eighth round (16th overall) of the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft. A two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, the former San Jose Earthquakes shot-stopper played for the previous edition of the Earthquakes (now Houston Dynamo), Colorado Rapids, and Los Angeles Galaxy. This included an MLS Cup title with San Jose in 2001.
MLS Experience:
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2012: Cannon started 26 matches for Whitecaps FC in his second season, including helping the team set an MLS record shutout streak to start a season, keeping their opponents off the scoreboard for 427 minutes. In total, Cannon posted 8 shutouts and helped the ‘Caps to their first ever appearance in the MLS Cup playoffs. After earning a clean sheet in a season-opening 2-0 home win over Canadian arch-rivals and MLS expansion side Montreal Impact on Mar. 10, Cannon claimed the MLS Save of the Week award for Week Two following his excellent save on Casey Townsend during Whitecaps FC’s first away win in MLS – a 1-0 victory at Chivas USA on Mar. 17. Cannon then claimed the MLS Save of the Week award for Week Three after making an outstanding save from D.C. United striker Hamdi Salihi during a goalless draw at BC Place on Mar. 24.
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2011: The goalkeeper made his Whitecaps FC competitive debut in the club's first away match in MLS, as Vancouver fell 1-0 at Philadelphia Union on Mar. 26. In earning a clean sheet during a 1-0 home win over Houston Dynamo on Aug. 27, Cannon earned a spot in the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 24. Cannon then won the MLS Save of the Week award for Week 26 after making a fine stop in the second half of Whitecaps FC's 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls on Sept. 10. Cannon made his 300th career appearance in MLS when he started Whitecaps FC's 3-0 defeat at LA Galaxy on Sept. 17 before making his 300th career start in the league during the 3-1 home defeat to Pacific Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 24. Cannon then earned his first Whitecaps FC assist, and the fourth of his MLS career, on Nizar Khalfan's first goal in the league during the 3-0 home win over Real Salt Lake on Oct. 6. On Dec. 5, Cannon signed a new MLS contract with Whitecaps FC.
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2010: Cannon's third season with the Earthquakes saw him record an impressive six shutouts in 12 appearances. However, injury cut short his campaign in San Jose, as he suffered a broken left ankle in training on Aug. 17. He was unable to appear for the Earthquakes' first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs since their return to the league back in 2008, with San Jose reaching the Eastern Conference Championship before losing 1-0 at Cannon's former club and eventual MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids on Nov. 13. On Nov. 24, Whitecaps FC acquired the goalkeeper during the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft.
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2009: The keeper had just three shutouts in 28 appearances with San Jose that season. In earning his third clean sheet of the season with the Earthquakes, Cannon passed Richard Mulrooney as the club's all-time leader in career starts (156) and minutes (14,211) following a 1-0 home win over New York Red Bulls on Oct. 3. 2008: Cannon returned home to the Bay Area when the re-born San Jose Earthquakes acquired the keeper from Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for allocation money on Jan. 10. He led MLS in saves with 124 and had nine shutouts in 30 regular season appearances. He was also one of only six players to appear in every minute of regular season action for his club (2,700). His service to the Bay Area community was awarded again with a second US Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award.
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2007: In his lone season with Los Angeles Galaxy, Cannon registered five clean sheets in 29 appearances for the Southern California outfit. In what was David Beckham's first season with the Galaxy, the shot-stopper made his LA debut in a goalless draw at Houston Dynamo on Apr. 8. He then made his 200th MLS career appearance and earned his 55th career shutout in a 0-0 draw at expansion club Toronto FC on Aug. 5. Cannon finished his ninth season in MLS by sitting fourth all-time in league history in saves (902) and shutouts (56), while he sat fifth all-time among MLS keepers for wins (84) and save percentage (73.6). Cannon also started all five of the Galaxy's games in their march to the North American SuperLiga final that season. This included a clean sheet in the 2-0 semifinal win over D.C. United on Aug. 15. He then played the first half of the 0-0 draw between the Galaxy and then United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) side Whitecaps FC at BC Place in Vancouver, BC, on Nov. 7.
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2006: With seven shutouts in 28 appearances, Cannon enjoyed a productive fourth and final season with Colorado, as he helped the Rapids back to the Western Conference Championship before they fell to eventual MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo on Nov. 5. He was a finalist for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and earned a third selection to the MLS All-Star Game, where he played the second half for the MLS All-Stars in a 1-0 victory over English Premier League giants Chelsea FC in Bridgeview, Illinois, on Aug. 5. Cannon was MLS Player of the Week in Week 25. On Dec. 1, the Rapids traded Cannon and the 23rd overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft to Los Angeles Galaxy for striker Herculez Gomez, defender Ugo Ihemelu, and the 18th overall pick in the 2007 SuperDraft.
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2005: The goalkeeper was Colorado's Most Valuable Player for a second straight year after registering eight clean sheets in 27 appearances for the Rapids. He was an additional selection for the MLS All-Star Game between the MLS All-Stars and English Premier League side Fulham FC in Columbus, Ohio, on July 30. Cannon also started Colorado's 4-1 defeat at former USL-1 side Minnesota Thunder in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Aug. 3. He also appeared the Rapids' three MLS Cup Playoff matches, as Colorado reached the Western Conference Championship before falling to eventual MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy on Nov. 5.
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2004: Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in his career, Cannon was also a finalist for the league's Most Valuable Player award after posting a career-high and team record 10 clean sheets in 30 regular season appearances. His efforts earned him a spot on the MLS Best XI, while the Rapids named him their Most Valuable Player and Defender of the Year. He also started both legs of their Western Conference Semifinals defeat to Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 22 and 30, while he made a late substitute appearance in Colorado's 3-0 defeat at MLS rivals Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on July 20.
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2003: After spending half a season in France's Ligue 1 with Racing Club de Lens, Cannon returned to MLS in August when he joined Colorado Rapids, who had acquired the goalkeeper's league rights in a trade with San Jose for three draft picks. He made one substitute appearance in the regular season for Colorado before starting both legs of their Western Conference Semifinals defeat to Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) on Nov. 4 and 8.
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2002: After training with French Ligue 1 outfit FC Metz in January, Cannon was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year after setting a club record for shutouts in a single season with eight in 26 appearances. He also earned his second selection to the MLS All-Star Game, as he played the second half for MLS All-Stars in a 3-2 win over the United States national team in Washington, DC, on Aug. 3. Cannon also started both matches of San Jose's Playoff Quarterfinal series defeat to Columbus Crew on Sept. 25 and 28. Cannon also made three starts for the Earthquakes in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (now CONCACAF Champions League). They included both legs of their Round of 16 clash versus Honduras' Club Deportivo Olimpia on Mar. 13 and 16, as well as the quarterfinal, first leg, defeat away to Mexico's Pachuca Club de Fútbol on Apr. 17.
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2001: His third season with the Earthquakes was a highly successful one for Cannon, as he led San Jose to their first-ever MLS Cup title. He was a finalist for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award after setting a club-record goals-against average of 1.09 in 25 regular season appearances. He also tied the San Jose record for clean sheets with seven that year. Cannon also earned his first selection to the MLS All-Star Game, playing the first half for the West All-Stars at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California, on July 28. In the MLS Cup Playoffs, Cannon posted a 5W-1L-0D record and a goals-against average of 0.49 in leading the Earthquakes to their first league championship title.
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2000: With the club re-named as the Earthquakes, Cannon continued his progress towards becoming one of elite shot-stoppers in the league, with the keeper named the club's Defensive Player of the Year. He had the fourth-best goals-against average in MLS (1.49) after 26 appearances for San Jose that season. He set new single-season records for saves (137) and catches/punches (106) with the club, as well as Earthquakes records for shutouts (seven) and starts by a goalkeeper (26). His efforts also earned him MLS Player of the Week honours in Weeks Three and 17. Cannon also made one start for San Jose during their run to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. He also earned the club's US Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award for his service to the community that year.
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1999: Following a fine 1998 season with former A-League club San Diego Flash, Cannon arrived in MLS when he joined hometown club San Jose Clash. After starting the season as the club's back-up goalkeeper, Cannon assumed the starting position in June following a shoulder injury to number one David Kramer. He recorded four clean sheets and a goals-against average of 1.33 in 24 appearances for the Clash that season.
MLS Reserve League:
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2011: Cannon started Vancouver's debut match in the MLS Reserve League, as Whitecaps FC reserves fell 2-1 at San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Mar. 22.
French Ligue 1
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2002-03: After a fine 2002 MLS season with San Jose Earthquakes, Cannon headed to Europe and joined Racing Club de Lens in France's Ligue 1 on a six-month contract. Though he appeared as a substitute for the Northern French club, he was unable to make a first-team appearance, with Cannon leaving at the end of the season.
A-League:
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1998: In his first season as a professional, Cannon made the All A-League Second Team after registering 12 clean sheets and a goals-against average of 0.80 as a member of former A-League club San Diego Flash. Compiling 21 wins and seven defeats, the keeper was named the club's Most Valuable Player that season after leading the Southern California outfit to top spot in the A-League's Western Conference, Pacific Division standings. San Diego eliminated Whitecaps FC (known then as Vancouver 86ers) in the playoff quarterfinals before the Flash fell to Minnesota Thunder in the Western Conference Final.
College:
Cannon started his NCAA Division I career at University of California, Santa Barbara, where he played his freshman year for the Gauchos before redshirting in 1994 after picking up a knee injury. He then transferred to Santa Clara University for his sophomore year in 1995. The keeper was a three-time All-West Coast Conference and two-time All-Far West Region selection before earning All-America honours as a senior for the Broncos in 1997. He finished his college career with a 0.94 GAA and 15 shutouts.
International:
Cannon has made two appearances at the senior international level for the United States. His USA debut came in a 2-1 friendly win over New Zealand in Richmond, Virginia, on June 8, with the keeper replacing Marcus Hahnemann in the second half and earning a clean sheet. His second and last appearance for his country came on Mar. 19, 2005, when he started the 1-0 friendly win over Honduras in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
High School/Amateur:
Cannon started his soccer career with Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club in Bay Area of Northern California. In 1993, he helped Mountain View Los Altos Shooting Stars to a US Youth Soccer National Championship title. The keeper then became a standout for the boys soccer team at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California.
Personal:
Born in Sun Valley, Idaho, Cannon grew up in Bay Area community of Los Altos Hills, California, near the city of San Jose. His parents are Barbara and Joe Cannon, while the keeper has four brothers. As a student at Santa Clara University, Cannon majored in political science.
Interesting Facts:
Fluent in English and Spanish, Cannon enjoys playing golf and beach volleyball when not concentrating on his soccer career. His commitment to the community has seen him work with autistic children at the Independent Peer Socialization Training Program (IPSTP) in Santa Clara, California. In Dec. 1999, 2000, and 2001, the keeper also took part in the Oakland Ballet's 'Celebrity Nutcracker', while he was co-Grand Marshall at the San Jose Holiday Parade on Dec. 2, 2001. A member of a sporting family, his twin brother Jon played minor league baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization, while his younger brother Colt has been on the professional skateboarding circuit. Younger brother Cody, meanwhile, played on the United States junior national water polo team. As a youngster, Cannon and his twin brother Jon were competitive ski racers. The keeper was also founder of Cannon Soccer Training and Camps in the Bay Area.
