About José Cancela
Born 1976. José Cancela is an Uruguayan association football player.
José Carlos Cancela Durán (born June 25, 1976) is a Uruguayan football coach and a former player who played as an attacking midfielder. He is nicknamed "Pepe".
Before joining the Colorado Rapids, Cancela played the preseason with Toronto FC but was traded to the Denver-based club the day before the regular season began. Cancela played for Peñarol, Cruz Azul, Deportivo Saprissa, and the New England Revolution. He had to leave Saprissa, despite being loved by their fans, because of the rule implemented by the "Morados" after 2003, by which they could only use Costa Rican players in their team.
Cancela joined the Revolution in July 2003, and immediately added an attacking flair not often seen in MLS. He immediately slotted into the starting lineup, and finished the season with a goal and seven assists in 13 games. Cancela struggled a little in his second year, as Clint Dempsey emerged as a competitor for the attacking midfield position, but finished the year with three goals and ten assists in 25 games. He scored two goals and five assists in 2005.
After the 2006 season, Cancela was taken by Toronto FC in the 2006 MLS Expansion Draft, but dealt to the Colorado Rapids in April of the following year in exchange for a Youth International slot to be held by Toronto until 2009. He was waived by the Rapids before the 2008 season.
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Important facts
People in José Cancela's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped José Cancela's
Frequently asked questions
Who is José Cancela?
Uruguayan footballer
When was José Cancela born?
José Cancela was born on 25 June 1976 in Santa Lucía.
What is José Cancela's occupation?
José Cancela is an association football player.
What nationality is José Cancela?
José Cancela is Uruguayan.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). José Cancela. https://biography.guide/jose-cancela/
MLA: "José Cancela." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jose-cancela/.
Chicago: "José Cancela." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jose-cancela/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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