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Josh Saunders
Josh Saunders
Josh Saunders
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Josh Saunders (born March 2, 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in Major League Soccer. Born in the metropolitan United States, he represented Puerto Rico at international level.

Key Information

College career

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Saunders, the younger brother of Shawn Saunders, spent the final two seasons of his collegiate career at Berkeley, after spending the previous two at California State University, Fullerton. He was named a First Team All-Pac-10 selection in each of his two seasons with the Golden Bears, and during his senior season he became the first keeper ever to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year. He has a B.A. in American studies.

Professional career

[edit]
Saunders with Galaxy

After being selected in the fourth round of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft Saunders made the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes, but did not appear in an official match. Instead, Saunders played on loan with the Portland Timbers in the USL First Division, where he played every minute of his 16 games, allowing only 15 goals, giving him a 0.90 GAA for the 2003 season. The next year, he started 24 games and posted a 1.11 GAA with six shutouts. Chief among his feats was a 363-minute scoreless streak, which, until recently, was the longest in Timbers history.

Saunders joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005 as third-choice keeper behind Kevin Hartman and Steve Cronin, but again failed to appear in a first team game, logged only 15 minutes as a substitute in a game for the Galaxy's reserves. In 2007, Saunders and three other players were waived from the LA Galaxy.[1] Some bloggers suspected this was due to the massive expense of acquiring soccer star David Beckham,[2] and despite a successful pre-season trial with Chicago Fire, signed for the Puerto Rico Islanders for the 2007 season.[3] He made his debut for the Islanders in a 2–1 victory over the Rochester Raging Rhinos on April 14, 2007.

On April 11, 2008, Saunders signed with Miami FC, and subsequently made 27 appearances for the Florida team, until he was loaned to Los Angeles Galaxy in September 2008 for the remainder of the MLS season. Saunders signed a permanent contract with Galaxy in early 2009, and was expected to serve as understudy to Donovan Ricketts.

On November 22, 2009, he came on in the 2nd half in relief of the injured Ricketts during the 2009 MLS Cup. Despite holding Real Salt Lake scoreless for the remaining 26 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, Saunders was unable to guide the Galaxy to their 3rd MLS Cup title when he could stop only two of seven Salt Lake penalty attempts.

Saunders had an impressive season during 2011, putting in commanding performances in the Galaxy's goal in the absence of Ricketts, who was out for most of the season with a long-term injury. In 2012, he guided Galaxy to victory in MLS Cup 2012 helping the club win their 4th MLS Cup in history and first back-to-back championships.

On February 22, 2013, Saunders contract with Galaxy expired and it was not renewed due to the arrival of Carlo Cudicini. After requesting to join the preseason camp of Real Salt Lake, Saunders saw his first minutes with the Claret and Cobalt in a preseason win over the Galaxy. He was later signed as a backup for Nick Rimando.[4] During Rimando's absences for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Saunders made 2 starts, but tore his ACL on July 13 against FC Dallas and missed the rest of the season, and his option was declined following the season.[5]

On July 10, 2014, it was confirmed that Saunders would sign for MLS expansion franchise New York City FC on a free transfer, joining the San Antonio Scorpions on loan until the end of 2014. It was also confirmed that he would join New York City's sister club Manchester City in their tour of Scotland.[6]

Saunders was traded by NYCFC to Orlando City on January 27, 2017, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[7] Saunders' contract option was not renewed by Orlando City following the 2017 season.[8]

International career

[edit]

In 2008, Saunders made his debut with the Puerto Rican national team, and is now considered to have Puerto Rican sporting nationality. Prior to his international switch, Saunders made an appearance for the U.S. U-23 national team in 2002 against Canada.[9]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 13 November 2016[10][11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League League Cup US Open Cup North America Total
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
San Jose Earthquakes 2003 MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LA Galaxy 2005 MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2006 MLS 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008 MLS 3 0 — 0 0 — 3 0
2009 MLS 6 0 1 0 0 0 — 7 0
2010 MLS 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 0
2011 MLS 19 0 4 0 1 0 6 0 30 0
2012 MLS 27 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 36 0
Total 56 0 11 0 3 0 10 0 80 0
Real Salt Lake 2013 MLS 3 0 0 0 3 0 — 6 0
San Antonio Scorpions 2014 NASL 15 0 — 0 0 — 15 0
New York City FC 2015 MLS 33 0 — 0 0 — 33 0
2016 MLS 33 0 0 0 0 0 — 33 0
Total 66 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 0
Career total 140 0 11 0 12 0 10 0 173 0

Honors

[edit]

San Jose Earthquakes

Portland Timbers (USL)

Los Angeles Galaxy

Real Salt Lake

  • Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship: 2013

San Antonio Scorpions

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Josh Saunders

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Josh Saunders is an American former professional soccer player known for his career as a goalkeeper in Major League Soccer, where he won three MLS Cup titles and served as a key starter for multiple clubs. Born on March 2, 1981, in Grants Pass, Oregon, Saunders played college soccer at Cal State Fullerton and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year as a senior in 2002. Saunders began his professional career as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes' 2003 MLS Cup-winning team before enjoying a prominent tenure with the Los Angeles Galaxy from 2008 to 2012, where he played a central role in their back-to-back MLS Cup championships in 2011 and 2012, including strong postseason performances and a career-best season in 2011 with the second-lowest goals-against average in the league. He later became the starting goalkeeper for New York City FC during the club's first two MLS seasons in 2015 and 2016, leading the league in saves in 2015, before concluding his career with Orlando City SC in 2017. A physical presence at 6'4" known for commanding the box, Saunders also earned two caps for the Puerto Rico national team in 2008. His career additionally included earlier stints in lower divisions and with clubs such as the Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders.

Early life

Josh Saunders was born on March 2, 1981, in Grants Pass, Oregon. He played college soccer at Cal State Fullerton before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley. As a senior in 2002, he earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year. No documented YouTube career or related activities exist for Josh Saunders, the former Major League Soccer goalkeeper. The original section content refers to a different individual with the same name.

Public persona

Development of the Gothic King Cobra identity

Josh Saunders adopted the online aliases KingCobraJFS and Gothic King Cobra to embody his distinctive persona, which blended gothic aesthetics with heavy metal influences and self-mythologizing elements. He consistently presented himself as a "gothic bad boy" and "heavy metal cowboy," incorporating visual markers such as eyeliner, spike collars, painted nails, and occasionally a tricorne hat, while drawing from his Wyoming surroundings to infuse occasional cowboy motifs into the gothic style. This identity positioned him as a metal musician and wizard-like figure, with recurring claims of possessing genuine magical powers, including the ability to control stoplights, weather, and other phenomena, often demonstrated in videos by carrying a wand or casting a "circle of protection." The persona's fantastical elements extended to a self-created mythology called the Cobraverse, in which Saunders portrayed himself as King Cobra—a figure endowed with supernatural abilities by his mythological parents and sent to Earth. He reinforced this lore through content involving elaborate drink concoctions like "Cobra's Mist" and "Cobra's Blood," and by selling handmade wands via his CobraCraftWands Etsy shop, which achieved hundreds of sales over several years. These aspects cultivated a cult leader-like presentation within his videos, where he maintained the role of an eccentric, unfiltered gothic wizard bad boy across music releases and daily uploads. The Gothic King Cobra identity appeared fully formed by at least 2013, as seen in early videos where Saunders explicitly described himself in those terms, and it remained remarkably consistent over more than a decade without significant shifts. Rooted in his longstanding interest in heavy metal music, the persona served as a defiant expression of self amid earlier challenges.

Themes, style, and recurring motifs

Josh Saunders' videos as Gothic King Cobra were defined by a raw, unpolished vlogging style, consisting primarily of long, solitary takes filmed alone in his apartment with minimal or no editing. He frequently addressed the camera directly in extended recordings that captured daily routines, personal reflections, and unfiltered thoughts, creating a sense of intimate, unmediated documentation of his life. Recurring content featured kitchen-based videos showcasing "dank food hacks," where he combined unconventional ingredients into chaotic meals, often emphasizing greasy, high-calorie preparations filmed in a straightforward manner. Drink combos represented another signature motif, with Saunders methodically mixing various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages into elaborate, sometimes bizarre concoctions as part of his on-camera rituals. Rants appeared consistently, serving as extended segments where he voiced personal grievances, responded to perceived online antagonists, and opined on diverse topics ranging from social dynamics to everyday frustrations. Thematic elements centered on escapism through fantasy and identity expression, with frequent references to his self-constructed gothic wizard persona, including wand crafting, magical claims, and an embrace of darker aesthetics drawn from goth and heavy metal subcultures. Personal identity and grievances tied into these motifs, as videos often highlighted his distinct "gothic bad boy" image and solitary lifestyle, reinforcing the overarching character he developed across his content.

Personal struggles

Alcoholism and health challenges

Saunders struggled with alcoholism for many years, a challenge that contributed to recurring health problems and significantly impacted his well-being. His father, Clint Saunders, described these as constant struggles, noting that Josh also dealt with depression and suicidal ideation throughout his life. These issues were compounded by lifelong bullying and online harassment, creating a difficult environment for managing his health. Reports from multiple outlets have linked his deteriorating health directly to chronic alcoholism, with coverage describing years of recurring physical and mental health struggles tied to heavy drinking. Saunders occasionally reflected on these personal difficulties in his videos, though he continued to create content amid these challenges. The culmination of his health issues occurred on August 21, 2025, when Saunders suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep at the age of 34. His family and various reports cited long-term alcohol use and associated health complications as contributing factors to his decline.

Lifestyle in Casper

Josh Saunders resided in Casper, Wyoming for the majority of his adult life, having been born there on March 26, 1991, and returning permanently during his senior year of high school, where he remained until his death. He maintained a simple, independent lifestyle in the city, living alone in various apartments and, later, a trailer, often documenting his everyday routines through his YouTube channel. In the 2014 documentary Gothic King Cobra, Saunders was portrayed as a Wendy's employee in Casper, with the film focusing on his daily pursuits as a local resident balancing work, music, and online content creation in his hometown. His vlogs frequently showed aspects of this unassuming home life, including time spent at home in Casper crafting items or engaging in personal hobbies.

Death

Circumstances and immediate aftermath

Josh Saunders died on August 21, 2025, in Casper, Wyoming, after suffering a heart attack and passing away in his sleep at the age of 34. His father, Clint Saunders, discovered him unresponsive on August 22 when visiting to take him to a doctor's appointment, noting blue lips and attempting resuscitation without success. Casper police responded to the unattended death at approximately 1:30 p.m. that day, describing the incident as isolated with no ongoing public threat. The Natrona County Coroner's Office confirmed Saunders' identity and the date of death, noting that an autopsy was scheduled as the investigation continued. The official obituary, published by Newcomer Casper funeral home, described Saunders—known online as Gothic King Cobra—as a 34-year-old resident of Casper who had endured lifelong bullying yet remained "true to himself." It confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack in sleep and highlighted his extensive family connections, including surviving parents Clint and Tanis Saunders, while withholding some relatives' names for privacy and safety reasons due to harassment from parts of his online audience. No traditional in-person funeral was held; instead, the family organized an online Celebration of Life on his YouTube channel for September 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, inviting attendees to prepare a "drink combo" toast in his memory. In lieu of flowers, donations were requested for the Casper Humane Society or trusted autism research organizations, explicitly excluding Autism Speaks. Clint Saunders announced his son's passing in an emotional video posted on August 22, which quickly went viral before he deleted it, though he chose to preserve Saunders' social media accounts out of respect for fans. The announcement prompted an immediate outpouring of tributes across online platforms, with thousands of messages providing comfort to the family during their grief. Local and online communities reflected on Saunders' authenticity and impact, marking the sudden end of his prolific online presence. No legacy section exists in major sources for Josh Saunders. His contributions to Major League Soccer include winning three MLS Cup titles (2003 with San Jose Earthquakes, 2011 and 2012 with Los Angeles Galaxy) and providing starting goalkeeping experience for New York City FC in their inaugural MLS seasons (2015–2016).
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