Cuauhtémoc Blanco: biography

Cuauhtémoc Blanco is a Mexican international footballer, capped 129 times and considered as one of the best ever players. With a career spanning three decades, he has been to a staggering eleven tournaments. A deep-lying forward, he made his reputation at Club America, playing there for fifteen years. He is currently signed to Irapuato.

Beginnings

Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo was born on 17 January 1973 in Mexico City. Raised in the deprived area of Tepito in the capital, he played football in nearby fields and fell in love with the game. A scout for Club America approached him after Blanco won a tournament with a local side. He made his professional debut in 1992.

Career

Breakthrough
The 1994 and 1995 seasons were breakthroughs for Blanco as fine club form was rewarded with a call-up to the national side. He scored his first goals for his country at the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup, including one in the final against Brazil to bring the title to Mexico. A loan spell at Necaxa followed in 1997-98, after going to the Olympics in 1996, the Copa America (Mexico finished third) and the Confederations Cup the following summer. Blanco’s club form and a triumph in the 1998 Gold Cup meant he would go to the first of his three World Cups in France that summer. Prime
Another third place in the Copa America was followed up with Mexico winning the 1999 Confederations Cup, with Cuauhtémoc finishing joint top scorer. This alerted Spanish side Real Valladolid who signed him on loan from America in 2000. Blanco suffered a broken leg in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago that caused him to miss eight months. This spell in Europe was unsuccessful due to injury and him suffering with homesickness. Despite this, Cuauhtemoc kept his place in the Mexico side that went to the 2002 World Cup. After then injuries limited his availability and when it came to getting to the next tournament in Germany Blanco was controversially left out by Ricardo Lavolpe. Recent years
A loan spell at Veracruz seemed to rebuild his fitness and he returned to America in 2005 to win the Clausura. He then moved to the USA with MLS side Chicago Fire. Blanco was then recalled to the Mexico team and went to the 2007 Gold Cup and Copa America, his country yet again finishing third. He has since returned to Veracruz and played on loan for Santos Laguna before joining Irapuato after the 2010 World Cup.

Achievements

Besides a whole host of individual awards, Cuauhtémoc has only won one Mexican championship with America and the Confederations Cup and two Gold Cups with his country.