Joseph Greenspan (born September 12, 1992) is an American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

player who plays as a defender.

Early life and education

Greenspan was born in

Summit, New Jersey Summit is the northernmost City (New Jersey), city of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located within the New York metropolitan area. Situated on a ridge in north Jersey, northern–central Jersey, centra ...

to Brian and Andrea Greenspan, and was raised in nearby Westfield, where he graduated from Westfield High School in 2011.

Career

College

Greenspan spent his entire college career at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

Professional

Greenspan was selected in the second round (26th overall) of the

2015 MLS SuperDraft The 2015 MLS SuperDraft was the sixteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held each year in conjunction with the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention. The 2015 convention was held Janua ...

Colorado Rapids The Colorado Rapids are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Founded in ...

. He initially put his soccer career on hold due to military service obligations but came to an agreement with the Navy and Rapids in June 2015, allowing him to fulfill his military requirements and play for the Rapids. Greenspan made his professional debut in a 4–1 win in a

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a knockout cup competition in men's soccer in the United States. It is the country's oldest ongoing national soccer competition. The competition was first held duri ...

over the

Colorado Springs Switchbacks Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the Western Conference in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The fra ...

. He served a year of active duty before the Navy transferred him to the Navy Reserve, allowing him to pursue a soccer career. Greenspan was traded to MLS expansion club

Minnesota United FC Minnesota United Football Club, often shortened to MNUFC, is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the W ...

following the 2016 season. He was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2017 season. Greenspan signed for

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional association football, soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1998 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference (USL), Eastern Conferenc ...

on January 12, 2018. After two-seasons with Pittsburgh, where he was named USL Championship Defender of the Year in 2019, Greenspan moved to fellow USL side

San Diego Loyal SC San Diego Loyal Soccer Club was an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the USL Championship. The team was founded by Warren Smith and Landon Donovan; it made its debut in 2020 as an expansion team. ...

ahead of their inaugural season in 2020. He was not included on the team's 2021 roster.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Greenspan, Joseph 1992 births Living people All-American college men's soccer players American men's soccer players Men's association football defenders Charlotte Independence players Colorado Rapids draft picks Colorado Rapids players Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players Major League Soccer players Minnesota United FC players Navy Midshipmen men's soccer players Sportspeople from Westfield, New Jersey Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players San Diego Loyal SC players Soccer players from Union County, New Jersey Sportspeople from Summit, New Jersey USL Championship players Westfield High School (New Jersey) alumni Military personnel from Union County, New Jersey 21st-century American sportsmen