From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe Cannon (born January 1, 1975 in Sun Valley, Idaho and raised in Los Altos Hills, California) is a soccer goalkeeper, the first netminder in Major League Soccer's history to win two MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Awards. He is currently with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Joe has a twin brother, Jon Cannon, who was a professional baseball player for 10 years.

After playing college soccer at Santa Clara University, Cannon was not drafted by an MLS team and instead signed with the now-defunct San Diego Flash of the A-League in 1998. After a season with the Flash, he was signed by MLS's San Jose Earthquakes and immediately become their starting goalkeeper. From 1999 to 2002, Cannon manned the Quake nets, leading them to the MLS Cup championship in 2001, and winning his first MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2002.

Cannon left the Quakes in 2003, signing a six-month contract with RC Lens of France's Ligue 1. Unfortunately for Joe, he wasn't able to break into the Lens first team, and left France after the season; the Earthquakes traded his rights to the Colorado Rapids for three draft picks. Cannon could not get into the squad in Colorado, as incumbent keeper Scott Garlick was playing well, but Rapids coach Tim Hankinson controversially made the switch for the playoffs. Although Colorado did not advance, Garlick was traded to the Dallas Burn, and Cannon kept his starting position.

In 2004, Cannon was one of the better goalkeepers in MLS, often keeping Rapids in games thanks to his play, and winning his second Goalkeeper of the Year award, being named to his first MLS Best XI and becoming a finalist for the MVP. He has earned two caps with the US national team (as of early 2005), his first coming against New Zealand on June 8, 2003.

On December 1, 2006, Cannon was traded to Los Angeles Galaxy for Herculez Gomez and Ugo Ihemelu. He made his Galaxy debut April 8, 2007 in a 0-0 tie with the Houston Dynamo.

• List of current MLS players