Cody Cropper
FullnameCody Cropper[1]
Birth dateFebruary 16, 1993 (age 33)[1]
Birth placeAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
PositionGoalkeeper
Youthyears 12006–2008
Youthclubs 1Minnesota Thunder
Youthyears 22008–2009
Youthclubs 2Reading Rage
Youthyears 32010–2012
Youthclubs 3Ipswich Town
Years 12012–2015
Clubs 1Southampton
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22015–2016
Clubs 2Milton Keynes Dons
Caps 29
Goals 20
Years 32016–2019
Clubs 3New England Revolution
Caps 336
Goals 30
Years 42019
Clubs 4→ Hartford Athletic (loan)
Caps 49
Goals 40
Years 52020
Clubs 5Houston Dynamo
Caps 50
Goals 50
Years 62021
Clubs 6FC Cincinnati
Caps 61
Goals 60
Years 72021
Clubs 7→ Memphis 901 (loan)
Caps 714
Goals 70
Years 82022
Clubs 8Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps 815
Goals 80
Years 92022
Clubs 9Whitecaps FC 2
Caps 91
Goals 90
Years 102023
Clubs 10Orange County SC
Caps 109
Goals 100
Nationalyears 12010–2013
Nationalteam 1United States U20
Nationalcaps 121
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22014–2016
Nationalteam 2United States U23
Nationalcaps 27
Nationalgoals 20
Club-updateJuly 3, 2023
Nationalteam-updateOctober 26, 2016

Cody Cropper (born February 16, 1993) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.

Youth soccer

Born in Atlanta, Cropper moved to Maple Grove, Minnesota when he was 10.[2] He played with the Minnesota Thunder Academy and the Reading Rage, as well spending time with the US U-17 residency program at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[3]

Club career

Cropper had several trials in England, including with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City, before joining the Ipswich Town academy in 2010.[3] He made the bench for the Ipswich first team, but suffered a torn meniscus.[4] He failed to receive a new contract offer from Ipswich and was released after the 2011–12 season.

Southampton

Cropper joined Southampton in August 2012.[4][5] Cropper served as a backup keeper for the Saints; making the first team bench, but playing for the U-21 and U-23 teams and never making a first team appearance. His time with Southampton included multiple injuries.[6][7] After three years at the south coast club, Cropper was released in May 2015.[8]

Milton Keynes Dons

On June 30, 2015, Cropper joined newly promoted Championship side Milton Keynes Dons.[9] He made his debut for MK Dons on August 11, 2015, in an EFL Cup first round win against Leyton Orient.[10][11] In September Cropper underwent knee surgery that kept him sidelined for over a month.[12] On April 16, 2016, Cropper was sent off for a foul on Preston North End's striker Eoin Doyle.[13] He returned from the suspension on April 23 and suffered a season ending shoulder injury in a 4–1 loss to Brentford.[14] Cropper was released after the 2015–16 season when the club decided not to take up the one-year option in Cropper's contract after being relegated to League One.[15]

New England Revolution

On August 18, 2016, Cropper signed with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.[16] He made his Revolution debut on October 23, getting a clean sheet in a 3–0 win over the Montreal Impact in the final game of the season.[17]

The Revolution's first choice goalkeeper, Bobby Shuttleworth, was traded to Minnesota United ahead of the 2017 season, giving Cropper a shot at the starting job. Cropper impressed head coach Jay Heaps and won the starting job coming out of preseason.[18] He started 28 of the 34 league games during the year, keeping eight clean sheets.[19] However the Revolution finished in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, missing out on the playoffs by five points.[20]

Cropper did not play during the 2018 season. He missed the start of the season due to a concussion. When he had returned to action, head coach Brad Friedel kept Matt Turner as the starter with Brad Knighton as the second choice keeper.[21][22][23]

Cropper made his first appearance of 2019 on March 30, a 2–1 win over Minnesota United in the 5th game of the season.[22] He would start the next 7 games for the Revs before Friedel decided to bench him. Bruce Arena came in as the new head coach, but Cropper failed to return to the lineup.[24]

Hartford Athletic (loan)

On August 17, 2019, Cropper was loaned to USL Championship side Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the season.[25] He made his debut for Hartford on August 24, a 3–2 win over Atlanta United 2. Cropper started the final nine games of the season for Hartford, keeping one clean sheet.[24]

On November 21, 2019, New England declined their contract option on Cropper.[26]

Houston Dynamo

On January 24, 2020, Cropper signed with MLS club Houston Dynamo.[27] He did not make any appearances for the Dynamo in 2020, serving as the backup for Marko Marić.[28] His contract option was declined by Houston following their 2020 season.[29]

FC Cincinnati

On December 30, 2020, it was announced that Cropper had signed for FC Cincinnati ahead of their 2021 season.[30] On August 27, 2021, Cropper was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901.[31] He was waived by Cincinnati on September 15, 2021.[citation needed]

Vancouver Whitecaps

On March 15, 2022, Cropper was signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He was signed for the 2022 season with a club option for 2023.[32][33] During the 2022 Canadian Championship Cropper appeared in all four matches, notching one clean sheet while only conceding three goals. Cropper came up huge in the tournament's final as his goalkeeping led to a 5–3 shootout victory over Toronto FC to award Vancouver their first Canadian Championship since 2015.[34]

Orange County SC

On March 14, 2023, Cropper signed with USL Championship side Orange County SC.[35] On July 4, 2023, Cropper retired from playing professionally and become an assistant coach at University of St. Thomas.[36]

International career

Cropper represented the United States at the 2011 and 2013 editions of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, the latter of which the US finished as runners-up.[37] He was also the first-choice goalkeeper for the United States at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2015 Toulon Tournament, the latter of which the US finished in third place.[38]

Cropper has appeared for the US up to U-23 level, including at the 2016 CONCACAF-CONMEBOL Olympic playoff.[39] He received his first United States senior team call-up for an August 14, 2013, friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[40] He was an unrostered player at the USMNT training camp at Stanford University before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and later received a senior call-up for a friendly against the Czech Republic on September 3, 2014. He was also called up to the United States senior squad for a friendly against Germany on June 10, 2015.[41]

Honours

Club

Vancouver Whitecaps

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]ContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton2012–13Premier League000000—00
2013–14000000—00
2014–15000000—00
Southampton Total0000000000
Milton Keynes Dons2015–16EFL Championship901020—120
New England Revolution2016MLS1000——10
201728000——280
20180000——00
2019700000—70
Revolution Total360000000360
Hartford Athletic (loan)2019USL Championship9000——90
Houston Dynamo2020MLS0000——00
Cincinnati2021MLS1000——10
Memphis 9012021USL Championship15000——150
Vancouver Whitecaps2022MLS1504[c]0——190
Vancouver Whitecaps II2022MLS Next Pro1000——10
Orange County2023USL Championship9020——110
Career total9507020001040
  1. ^ Includes the FA Cup and US Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes the EFL Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs, and USL Championship Playoffs
  3. ^ Appearances in Canadian Championship

Personal life

Cropper has an English father. He was born in Atlanta and moved to Maple Grove, Minnesota at the age of 10.[43]

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: United States". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 23, 2013. p. 23. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "New England keeper Cropper has Minnesota roots". Grand Forks Herald. March 25, 2017.
  3. ^ "Cody Cropper Officially Signs with Ipswich Town FC - Finally! | IMS Soccer News". May 8, 2015. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "US U-20 Cody Cropper Signs with Premiership Club Southampton | IMS Soccer News". September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "'keeper Cropper Signs Permanently". Southampton FC. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cody Cropper sent to hospital after head injury". SBI Soccer. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Andy Greder / St. Paul Pioneer Press | March 24, 2017 - 8pm (March 25, 2017). "New England keeper Cropper has Minnesota roots". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Saints release six". Southampton FC. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "Dons make triple signing". mkdons.com
  10. ^ "BBC Sport – MK Dons 2–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport
  11. ^ "BBC Sport – MK Dons: Dale Jennings, Simon Church and Cody Cropper sign". BBC Sport
  12. ^ "Dons dealt injury blows - News - Milton Keynes Dons". www.mkdons.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "Preston North End 1 MK Dons 1". BBC Sport. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  14. ^ "Stopper Cropper leaves MK Dons". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "Cody to depart stadiummk". Mkdons.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  16. ^ "Revolution Sign Goalkeeper Cody Cropper". Revolutionsoccer.net. August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  17. ^ "Cody Cropper 2016 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  18. ^ "Cody Cropper gaining a foothold as Revolution goalkeeper". SBI Soccer. April 20, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  19. ^ "Cody Cropper 2017 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "2017 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  21. ^ Rueter, Jeff. "The Revolution have one of MLS's tightest goalkeeper...". The Athletic. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  22. ^ Cardillo, Julian & USA, Pro Soccer (April 23, 2019). "New England Revolution look to rise as Cody Cropper returns". Pro Soccer USA. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  23. ^ Nye, Josh (January 1, 2019). "Who should start in goal for the Revolution?". The Bent Musket. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  24. ^ "Cody Cropper 2019 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  25. ^ "New England Revolution loan goalkeeper Cody Cropper to Hartford Athletic". revolutionsoccer.net. New England Revolution. August 17, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  26. ^ "Revolution announce year-end roster moves". New England Revolution. November 21, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  27. ^ "Houston Dynamo sign GK Cody Cropper". Houston Dynamo. January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "Cody Cropper 2020 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "Houston Dynamo FC exercise 2021 contract options on 10 players | Houston Dynamo". houstondynamofc
  30. ^ "FC Cincinnati sign goalkeeper Cody Cropper". fccincinnati.com. Major League Soccer. December 30, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  31. ^ "Memphis Acquires Cody Cropper on Loan from FC Cincinnati". August 27, 2021.
  32. ^ mlssoccer. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC sign free-agent goalkeeper Cody Cropper | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  33. ^ "Whitecaps FC sign experienced goalkeeper Cody Cropper | Vancouver Whitecaps"
  34. ^ Cody Cropper Blazing musket https://www.theblazingmusket.com/p/cody-cropper-announces-retirement
  35. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC SIGN GOALKEEPER CODY CROPPER FOR 2023"
  36. ^ "Cody Cropper retires as player, joins St. Thomas men's soccer staff". July 4, 2023.
  37. ^
  38. ^
  39. ^ "Cody Cropper signs with MK Dons". Soccer By Ives. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  40. ^ "Cody Cropper sent to hospital after head injury". mlssoccer.com. January 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  41. ^ "Cody Cropper replaces Nick Rimando on USMNT roster ahead of Wednesday's friendly at Germany". mlssoccer.com. June 7, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  42. ^ "VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC WIN THE 2022 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL". canadasoccer.com. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  43. ^ "Minnesotan Cody Cropper: A Fresh Start In Milton Keynes". Northern Pitch. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.