Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the Chamber of Deputies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 31 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Governor of Morelos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1 October 2018 – 31 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Graco Ramírez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Margarita González Saravia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Municipal president of Cuernavaca | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1 January 2016 – 2 April 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jorge Morales Barud | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Denisse Arizmendi Villegas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo 17 January 1973 Mexico City, Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | MORENA (since 2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Party (2015–2016) Independent (2016–2017) Social Encounter Party (2017–2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouses | Marisela Santoyo
(m. 1996; div. 2003)Natalia Rezende (m. 2015) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation |
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Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo (Spanish pronunciation: [kwawˈtemok ˈblaŋko]; born 17 January 1973) is a Mexican politician and former professional footballer serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies. He also served as the Governor of Morelos from 2018 to 2024 under the coalition Juntos Haremos Historia, and as the municipal president of Cuernavaca, Morelos. As a footballer, Blanco was known for his attacking ability and played most of his career as a deep-lying forward and his last years as an attacking midfielder. Blanco is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican footballers of all time.
Early life
[edit]Blanco was born in Mexico City, in the district of Tlatilco,[2] but grew up in Tepito.[3] Born to Faustino Blanco and Hortensia Bravo,[4] he was named after the last Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc, in which the name means "one who has descended like an eagle".[5]
Football career
[edit]Beginnings
[edit]Blanco started his career with América in 1992, where he won various awards, both team-based and individual, and had various loan stints with Necaxa, Spanish club Real Valladolid, and Veracruz. In 2007, he joined the Chicago Fire,[6] with a loan stint with Santos Laguna for the 2008 Apertura championship. In 2010, he returned to Mexico to trek throughout various teams, joining Veracruz again, Irapuato, Dorados, and Puebla-based teams Lobos BUAP and Puebla, where he retired with the latter in 2015. The following year, he came out of retirement to officially end his career with América.[6]
Club career
[edit]Club América
[edit]Having played most of his career in América, with 333 appearances and 135 goals, Blanco has become an idol to the club's supporters and an important figure in the history of the team.
Blanco made his debut in the Mexican Primera División in 1992 at the age of 19 with América. He won his first Golden Boot with 16 goals in the Winter 1998 season for Las Águilas. He was loaned for Winter 1997 and Summer 1998 at Necaxa, in which he scored 13 goals in 28 appearances. Blanco was later loaned to Real Valladolid of La Liga for the 2000–01 season. However, he suffered a broken leg while on international duty which kept him out of the side for six months. Blanco returned to Valladolid for another loan spell the following season, but he struggled with homesickness and regaining his form. He had a knack for scoring great goals in La Liga, with most notable, a free-kick against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[7]
He returned to Mexico and spent the 2004 Apertura season with Veracruz, where they ended up winning their group, but were defeated in the playoffs by UNAM. Blanco was a popular player during his time there. In May 2005, Blanco won his first club championship as a player, leading Club América to its tenth league title, when Club América defeated U.A.G. by an aggregate score of 7–4 (1–1, 6–3). In the next three consecutive years between 2005 and 2007, he was awarded the MVP.
He scored his final goal during the championship final against Pachuca in 2007.
Chicago Fire
[edit]On 2 April 2007, Blanco ventured on to Major League Soccer in the United States and signed with Chicago Fire. He was welcomed by 5,000 fans at Toyota Park as he conducted interviews with the media, signed autographs and greeted with fans.
He was later voted as a finalist for both the MVP and Newcomer of the Year awards in 2007.[8] Blanco was the 2007 Goal of the Year winner, for his goal against Real Salt Lake.[9]
Blanco was the second-highest paid player in Major League Soccer, after LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, earning $2.7 million a year.[10] Once again, he was a finalist for the MVP of the year award.
On 24 July 2008, in the All-Stars Game against West Ham United, Blanco won the MVP award with one assist and one goal, a game in which he only played 46 minutes. The MLS All-stars won 3–2.
Santos Laguna (loan)
[edit]On 19 November 2008, it was announced that Santos Laguna signed Blanco on a loan to play only for the Apertura 2008 championship, after the injury of their Ecuadorian striker Christian Benítez. Blanco was formally presented to the press the next day, wearing the number 9 jersey, and stated that he looked forward to giving Santos a back-to-back championship.[11][12][13] On 29 November 2008, Blanco scored his first goal with Santos, a penalty in the second leg of the championship quarter-finals against San Luis.
Later career
[edit]In October 2009, Blanco announced he would not be renewing his contract with Chicago Fire and would instead sign with Veracruz of the Ascenso MX beginning in January 2010.[14] However, after 6 months with Veracruz he left for Irapuato.[15] Led by Blanco, Irapuato won the 2011 Clausura, but the team failed to advance to the Primera División, losing to Tijuana in the promotional final.
In December 2011, Blanco joined Dorados de Sinaloa of Liga de Ascenso.[16] During Apertura 2012, Blanco won the Copa MX with Dorados. Despite Blanco announcing he would retire after the end of 2012, he changed his mind and played for another six months with Dorados. However, after the tournament ended, he did not renew his contract and was released from the team in June 2013.
Blanco signed for Lobos BUAP for the Apertura 2013 Liga de Ascenso season.[17] After one year with the club, he did not renew his contract with BUAP and was released from the club at the end of the season, in which the club failed to qualify for the play-offs.
After considering retirement, Blanco signed with Puebla for one last season in the Liga MX. On 21 April 2015, he played in the Clausura's Copa MX final against Guadalajara, coming off the bench. Puebla went on to win the cup, and sent Blanco off as a champion in what was supposed to be the final game of his career.
On 22 February 2016, a month into his political career, it was announced that Blanco would participate in an official Liga MX match during the Week 9 of Clausura 2016 for the club that started his career, Club América.[18] It would allow him to officially end his career, while playing for the club. On 5 March, Blanco started the match wearing a number 100 jersey, and played 36 minutes for América at the Estadio Azteca in a match against Morelia, before being replaced by Darwin Quintero.[19] During the match, Blanco demonstrated his signature move, the Cuauhtemiña, and had two shots on goal, one of which hit the crossbar from the outside of the penalty box. The match was eventually won by América 4–1.[20][21]
International career
[edit]Blanco represented Mexico from 1995 to 2010 (with a special appearance in 2014). He was capped 120 times and scored 38 goals. Blanco is the only Mexican to have won Confederations Cup awards, being awarded the Silver Ball and Silver Boot at the 1999 Confederations Cup after a first-place finish on home soil, until Oswaldo Sánchez's Golden Glove award in 2005. In 2010, he became the first Mexican to score at three World Cup tournaments, a feat later equalled by Rafael Márquez and Javier Hernández, appearing in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 editions of the tournament.
Blanco made his debut with the senior national team under Bora Milutinovic in a friendly match against Uruguay on 1 February 1995.[22] Blanco has played for Mexico at three World Cups; he was part of the squad at France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010.[23] He was also a member of the team that won the Confederations Cup in 1999 where he was the tournament's leading scorer with six goals, including the winning goal at the Estadio Azteca against Brazil in the final. He was awarded the "Silver Shoe" and "Silver Ball" for outstanding player of the tournament. Blanco holds the record along with Brazilian Ronaldinho as the highest scoring players in the Confederations Cup with nine goals, three in 1997 and six in 1999.
In the selection for the final 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, then national team coach Ricardo La Volpe left Blanco out of the team. While the ostensible reason given was that Blanco was frequently injured and not in good form, some people considered this to be a consequence of the previous year's constant bickering, due to on-going personal problems between coach and player.[23]
Blanco became part of the squad that played the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring one penalty goal, and the 2007 Copa América, where he scored 2 goals also from penalty kicks. On 13 September 2008, he earned his 100th cap for his country in its 2–1 World Cup qualifier victory over Canada at Tuxtla Gutiérrez, coming on with only 15 seconds left in regulation time. After the match, he announced his retirement from international football.[24]
With the return of Javier Aguirre as coach, Blanco returned to the national team in May 2009.[25] He played in all the games throughout the Hexagonal of the World Cup Qualifying. Since then, Blanco has become an important factor in Mexico's team regaining form and confidence.
On 10 October 2009, Blanco provoked the first opposition own goal and scored the second goal in a 4–1 victory over El Salvador to help Mexico clinch a spot in the 2010 World Cup. On 17 June 2010, he scored a penalty in the 78th minute of the 2–0 win against France at the World Cup's second round of group stage matches in South Africa.[26] With this goal he became the first Mexican to score a goal in three World Cup tournaments and the third-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history.[27][28]
Blanco played a tribute game in 2014 against Israel at the Estadio Azteca, which symbolized his official retirement from international football. Mexico went on to win the match 3–0.
Player profile
[edit]Style of play
[edit]Blanco is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican footballers of all time,[29][30][31][32] as well as one of the best penalty takers of all time,[33] having scored 71 out of 73 penalties in his career, giving him a 97.26% success rate from the spot.[34]
His brash, aggressive, and confrontative playing style is reflected both on and off the field, pulling ingenious plays[35] and being combative against the press, players, and coaches alike.[36]
Cuauhtemiña
[edit]Blanco is also remembered for the Cuauhtemiña, or Blanco Trick, which he performed notably at the 1998 World Cup.[37] In the trick, when two or more opposition players are trying to take the ball from him, he traps the ball between his feet and jumps through the defenders – releasing the ball in the air and landing with it under control as he leaves the opposition players behind.[38] The trick is easy to perform but is eye-catching and has been incorporated as a special skill into the FIFA series of football video games.
Celebration
[edit]Blanco himself has accepted on Mexican television and to the press that his goal celebration is an imitation of the "Archer" celebration created by former Atletico de Madrid striker Kiko Narvaez. In a 2005 interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal, Blanco explains that while watching a Spanish league game accompanied by his teammate Germán Villa, both players agreed to celebrate their next goal by imitating the "Archer" gesture. In the end, only Blanco did it, and jokingly reprimanded Villa for not keeping his word.[39] However, the Chicago Fire official website claimed that Blanco celebrates scoring a goal by acting like the Prehispanic Tlatoani Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc, "in order to show respect for the Mexican people, and their indigenous Amerindian heritage".[40]
Reception
[edit]Blanco is considered one of the most influential figures in recent Mexican footballing history.[41] Tom Marshall of ESPN states "the battles, brawls, golazos, insults, intensity and passion with which Blanco [...] lived both on and off the pitch, he left a deep imprint on the Mexican game and a colorful story painted by the kind of character arguably lacking at present."[42]
Career statistics
[edit]Club America
[edit]Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
América | 1992–93 | Primera División | 12 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 0 | ||
1993–94 | 14 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 0 | ||||
1994–95 | 28 | 6 | – | – | 28 | 6 | ||||
1995–96 | 32 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 0 | ||||
1996–97 | 27 | 9 | – | – | 27 | 9 | ||||
Total | 113 | 15 | – | 113 | 15 | |||||
Necaxa (loan) |
1997–98 | Primera División | 15 | 6 | – | – | 15 | 6 | ||
1998–99 | 3 | 5 | – | – | 3 | 5 | ||||
Total | 18 | 11 | – | 18 | 11 | |||||
América | 1998–99 | Primera División | 16 | 16 | – | – | 16 | 16 | ||
1999–2000 | 29 | 24 | – | – | 29 | 24 | ||||
Total | 45 | 40 | – | – | 45 | 40 | ||||
Real Valladolid (loan) |
2000–01 | La Liga | 3 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||
2001–02 | 20 | 3 | – | – | 20 | 3 | ||||
Total | 23 | 3 | – | – | 23 | 3 | ||||
América | 2002–03 | Primera División | 36 | 11 | – | – | 36 | 11 | ||
2003–04 | 38 | 20 | – | – | 38 | 20 | ||||
Total | 74 | 31 | – | – | 74 | 31 | ||||
Veracruz (loan) |
2004–05 | Primera División | 15 | 5 | – | – | 15 | 5 | ||
América | 2004–05 | Primera División | 14 | 4 | – | – | 14 | 4 | ||
2005–06 | 28 | 7 | – | – | 28 | 7 | ||||
2006–07 | 34 | 11 | – | – | 34 | 11 | ||||
Total | 76 | 22 | – | – | 76 | 22 | ||||
Chicago Fire | 2007 | Major League Soccer | 14 | 4 | – | – | 14 | 4 | ||
2008 | 27 | 7 | – | – | 27 | 7 | ||||
2009 | 21 | 5 | – | 4 | 2 | 25 | 7 | |||
Total | 62 | 16 | – | 4 | 2 | 66 | 18 | |||
Santos Laguna (loan) |
2008–09 | Primera División | 4 | 1 | – | – | 4 | 1 | ||
Veracruz | 2009–10 | Liga de Ascenso | 14 | 5 | – | |||||
Irapuato | 2010–11 | Liga de Ascenso | 39 | 8 | – | |||||
2011–12 | 8 | 1 | – | |||||||
Total | 47 | 9 | – | – | ||||||
Dorados | 2011–12 | Liga de Ascenso | 13 | 5 | – | |||||
2012–13 | Ascenso MX | 27 | 9 | 10 | 2 | |||||
Total | 40 | 14 | 10 | 2 | – | |||||
BUAP | 2013–14 | Ascenso MX | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | – | 23 | 6 | |
Puebla | 2014–15 | Liga MX | 19 | 3 | 11 | 4 | – | 30 | 7 | |
América | 2015–16 | Liga MX | 1 | 0 | – | – | ||||
Career total | 573 | 181 | 22 | 6 | 595 | 187 |
International
[edit]National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Mexico | 1995 | 1 | 0 |
1996 | 11 | 3 | |
1997 | 15 | 4 | |
1998 | 15 | 3 | |
1999 | 18 | 8 | |
2000 | 4 | 5 | |
2001 | 4 | 5 | |
2002 | 7 | 1 | |
2003 | 2 | 0 | |
2004 | 2 | 0 | |
2005 | 4 | 0 | |
2006 | 1 | 0 | |
2007 | 11 | 4 | |
2008 | 3 | 0 | |
2009 | 7 | 3 | |
2010 | 14 | 2 | |
2014 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 120 | 38 |
International goals
[edit]- Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.[43]
Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 21 January 1996 | L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States | Brazil | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
2. | 7 February 1996 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile | Chile | 1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
3. | 16 June 1996 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States | United States | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1996 U.S. Cup |
4. | 22 June 1997 | Estadio Félix Capriles, Cochabamba, Bolivia | Ecuador | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1997 Copa América |
5. | 14 December 1997 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 3–0 | 5–0 | 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup |
6. | 5–0 | |||||
7. | 16 December 1997 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Brazil | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup |
8. | 7 February 1998 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, United States | Honduras | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
9. | 2–0 | |||||
10. | 20 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux, France | Belgium | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup |
11. | 6 July 1999 | Antonio Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay | Venezuela | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1999 Copa América |
12. | 3–0 | |||||
13. | 25 July 1999 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup |
14. | 2–0 | |||||
15. | 4–1 | |||||
16. | 5–1 | |||||
17. | 1 August 1999 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | United States | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup |
18. | 4 August 1999 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Brazil | 4–2 | 4–3 | 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup |
19. | 9 January 2000 | Networks Associates Coliseum, Oakland, United States | Iran | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
20. | 3 September 2000 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Panama | 4–0 | 7–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
21. | 7–1 | |||||
22. | 8 October 2000 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago | 1–0 | 7–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
23. | 3–0 | |||||
24. | 2 September 2001 | Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica | Jamaica | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
25. | 2–1 | |||||
26. | 5 September 2001 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
27. | 11 November 2001 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Honduras | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
28. | 3–0 | |||||
29. | 3 June 2002 | Niigata Stadium, Niigata, Japan | Croatia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup |
30. | 28 February 2007 | Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States | Venezuela | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
31. | 10 June 2007 | Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States | Honduras | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
32. | 8 July 2007 | Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela | Paraguay | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2007 Copa América |
33. | 14 July 2007 | Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela | Uruguay | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2007 Copa América |
34. | 6 June 2009 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | El Salvador | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
35. | 9 September 2009 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Honduras | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
36. | 10 October 2009 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | El Salvador | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
37. | 17 March 2010 | Estadio Corona, Torreón, Mexico | North Korea | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
38. | 17 June 2010 | Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa | France | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup |
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1998 | Gotita de amor | Himself |
2007 | La familia P. Luche | |
2010 | Hasta que el dinero nos separe | |
2010-11 | Triunfo del amor | Juan José Martínez |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Y tu qué sientes por ella? | Himself | Adidas commercial |
2010 | Más Color | Laundry detergent of Henkel Commercial with Consuelo Duval | |
2011 | Pepsi | Commercial of his Special Edition product | |
2014 | Commercial with Francisco Palencia & Luis Hernández |
Political career
[edit]Municipal president of Cuernavaca (2015–2018)
[edit]In January 2015, Blanco registered as a Social Democratic Party candidate for the municipal presidential elections of the city of Cuernavaca, the capital of the Mexican state of Morelos,[45] and was formally nominated two months later.[46] In the 2015 legislative elections, he won in a closely contested election, narrowly defeating Maricela Velázquez of the incumbent Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). In a subsequent vote recount Blanco was confirmed the winner of the municipal presidential race.[47][48]
As municipal president, Blanco struggled with accusations about his residency in the city,[49][50] allegations that he had accepted a bribe to run for office,[51] and even murder. None of these allegations ever went anywhere.[52][53] In June 2016, he left the Social Democratic Party and dismissed the secretary of the city council, Roberto Yañez Moreno, which marked the beginning of a dispute between Blanco and the party.[54]
In March 2017, he joined the Social Encounter Party (PES).[55]
Governor of Morelos (2018–2024)
[edit]For the 2018 general elections, the National Regeneration Movement proposed having Senator Rabindranath Salazar Solorio as the candidate under the coalition Juntos Haremos Historia for the Governor of Morelos but PES, also part of the coalition, argued Blanco was the better choice for the coalition's candidate.[56] In December 2015, it was determined there would be an internal election to see who would become the candidate for the coalition.[57]
On 28 January 2018, Juntos Haremos Historia presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced Blanco would be the coalition's candidate after winning the nominee process against Senator Rabindranath Salazar Solorio.[58] On 11 March 2018 he formally registered to become candidate for Governor of Morelos and on 2 April 2018, he was separated from his post as municipal president of Cuernavaca, succeeded by Denisse Arizmendi Villegas, in order to formally participate in the gubernatorial elections.[59][60] Polls indicated he was in the lead.[61][62]
On 1 July 2018, he won the 2018 gubernatorial elections by a landslide,[63] becoming the first former footballer to win a state governor election in Mexico.[64] He began his term as Governor on 1 October 2018.[65] His greatest challenges as governor are finding adequate funding for the state university (UAEM) and resolving the high incidence of crime in the state. Only three months into his term, he was already faced with marches denouncing his administration.[66] On 13 February 2019 Blanco formally charged his predecessor, Graco Ramirez, with organized crime, operations with resources of illicit origin, and tax fraud.[67]
One year into his governorship, people began to doubt Blanco's administration. Politically, he disputed with Morena and PT, partners in Juntos Haremos Historia that got him elected. He promoted PES, which has been dissolved on a national level but remains strong locally.[68] Crime rose significantly, with a 680% increase in cases of extortion, 375% increase in kidnappings, and 41% increase in murders. More than eighty women were killed in 2019, 22 of which were classified distinctly as femicide. Additionally, a tax debt of MXN$302,230 (US$15,800) from his time as a footballer was pardoned by the federal Tax Administration Service, raising questions of corruption.[69] Roberto Soto Pastor, a former collaborator of Graco Ramirezs, sued Blanco for hiring several members of his family and friends, including: his half-brother Ulises Bravo, sister-in-law Liu León Luna, uncles Carlos Juárez López, Jaime Juárez López, and Armando Shajid Bravo López, and a close friend named Baltazar Jonathan Alegría Mejía. All receive salaries that range from MXN $45,000 to $60,000 (US$2,300 to $3,100) per month. The suit says their hiring is a violation of Código Penal de Morelos, Artículo 276 (Morelos penal code, Article 276) which prohibits nepotism.[70][71] President Andrés Manuel López Obrador personally called Blanco out for nepotism in a meeting on 11 October.[72] The governor denies allegations of nepotism.[73]
On 8 January 2020, Arias Consultores released a poll that describes the best and worst governors. Sinaloa governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel is chosen best, while Puebla governor L. Miguel Barbosa Huerta was declared the worst. Cuauhtemoc Blanco was second-to-last at No. 31.[74]
Personal life
[edit]He was previously married to Marisela Santoyo from 1996 to 2003, with whom he has a son, Cuauhtémoc Jr., born the same year of their wedding.[75] After their separation in 2000, Blanco had an affair with Liliana Lago, which produced a daughter, Bárbara, born in 2002.[76] In 2015, Blanco married Natalia Rezende.[77] The couple have a son named Roberto, born in 2016.[78]
He appeared on the North American front cover of the FIFA 10 video game along with Frank Lampard and Sacha Kljestan.[79]
In October 2024, Blanco was accused of attempting to rape his half-sister.[80]
Honours
[edit]América
- Mexican Primera División: Clausura 2005
- Campeón de Campeones: 2005
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1992, 2006
Dorados
Irapuato
Puebla
Mexico
Individual
- FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Boot: 1999
- FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Ball: 1999
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 1998
- Mexican Primera División Golden Ball: Invierno 1998, 2004–05, 2006–07
- Mexican Primera División Golden Boot: Invierno 1998
- Mexican Primera División Best Forward: Invierno 1998, Apertura 2005
- MLS Player of the Month: May 2008
- MLS Best XI: 2008
- MLS All-Star: 2008, 2009
- MLS All-Star Game MVP: 2008
- MLS Goal of the Year: 2007
- Tecate Premios Deportes Male Athlete of the Year: 2008[81]
- Tecate Premios Deportes North American Footballer of the Year: 2008[81]
- Tecate Premios Deportes Footballer of the Year: 2009[82]
- Tecate Premios Deportes Best XI: 2008[81]
- Premio Nacional del Deporte: 2009[83]
Records
- FIFA Confederations Cup All Time Scorer: 9 goals (shared with Ronaldinho)
- Most Liga MX Citalli/Golden Ball Awards: 3 (shared with Cabinho & Fabián Estay)
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Cuauhtemoc Blanco". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco cumple 46 años de vida". 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco regresa a su antiguo barrio". 10 August 2018.
- ^ "La última 'Cuauhteminha'".
- ^ Elzaurdia, Paco (2013). Superestrellas del Futbol: Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Mason Crest. ISBN 9781422291573.
- ^ a b thesefootballtimes.co https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/04/12/emperor-cuauhtemoc-blanco/. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help)[title missing] - ^ S.A., Sarenet. "El gozo de marcar en el Bernabéu – Real Valladolid C. F." realvalladolid.elnortedecastilla.es. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "MLSnet.com: Press release". 2007 MLS award finalists & announcement schedule. Archived from the original on 29 December 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
- ^ Media Player Archived 22 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Mr. White Gets to 100 Caps (Maybe), Walks Away". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- ^ Blanco va a Santos pero sólo para la Liguilla Archived 23 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Blanco quiere el bicampeonato para el Santos Archived 5 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Blanco loaned to Santos Laguna". Chicago.fire.mlsnet.com. 6 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ "Cuauhtemoc Blanco to leave Chicago Fire for Mexico". usatoday.com. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco confirma su pase al club Irapuato". CNN Mexico (in Spanish). 16 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco es nuevo jugador de los Dorados de Sinaloa" (in Spanish). 22 December 2011.
- ^ "Cuau, nuevo jugador de Lobos BUAP". record.com.mx. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "Club America to give Cuauhtemoc Blanco special farewell in Liga MX". espnfc.us. 22 February 2016.
- ^ "Informe Arbitral, América 4-1 Morelia". LigaMX.net.
- ^ "Cuauhtemoc Blanco farewells Club America, Estadio Azteca in style". espnfc.com. 6 March 2016.
- ^ "Regalan goles al 'Cuau'". Televisa Deportes. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "Los 13 momentos más destacados de Cuauhtémoc Blanco". Heraldo de Mexico. 17 January 2020.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ a b "Cuauhtémoc Blanco Worthy of World Cup Cameo". Inside Futbol. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- ^ "Blanco calls it a day". FIFA. 12 September 2008. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "La Jornada: Cuauhtémoc Blanco, la sorpresa en la lista del Tri". 15 May 2009.
- ^ Dawkes, Phil (17 June 2010). "France 0–2 Mexico". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ "Mexico tops France to close in on knockout round". The Sports Network. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ Ramírez, Armando (19 June 2010). "Temo Seguiría Como Tiburón". Récord (in Spanish). Diario Record. ISSN 1665-2134.
- ^ "The decisive goal: Blanco bags Mexico's maiden title". FIFA.com. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco Bravo is without doubt one of the finest players Mexico has ever produced
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco – Los diez mejores futbolistas mexicanos de la historia" [Cuauhtémoc Blanco – The ten best Mexican footballers in history]. Marca (in Spanish).
- ^ Villegas Gama, Karla. "Ranking the Best 20 Mexican Players of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ Cleary, Stephen. "Best Mexican Soccer Players of All Time". Cleats. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "The best penalty takers of all time". BARÇA NÚMEROS. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
According to this analysis and to the dataset we have used, Cuauhtémoc Blanco (71 scored out of 73 total penalties) is our best penalty taker. [...] Also, according to our results, we can say that Blanco is probably the best penalty taker in the world, but we cannot say that with absolute certainty. What we can say is that, from all the players we have considered and according to our methodology, Blanco has the highest probability of being better than the rest (around 66% probability that he is a better penalty taker than Alexander and Le Tissier (and so on).
- ^ Fiori, Stefano (31 December 2018). "Chi sono i rigoristi migliori della storia del calcio?". Fox Sports (in Italian). Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ Fernandez de Castro, Rafael (8 June 2015). "Can Mexico's most controversial soccer star score the most improbable goal of his career?". Splinter News. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
The soccer star was known for his ingenuity in the field with famous tricks like the celebrated Cuatemiña and controlling the ball with his butt and his camel-hump back.
- ^ Nielsen, Chad (22 October 2007). "The Anti Becks". ESPN. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
On the field, Blanco sometimes looks like a child acting out, which made his signing a flash point for anyone paying attention. He's a major factor in the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry, reviled as a badgering, flopping provocateur. With Club America, his celebrations ranged from comical to crass; he once lifted his leg, canine-style, in front of an opposing coach. He has a history of public feuds with coaches, opponents and the media. Said Fire midfielder Chris Armas when the deal was announced in April: "You just hope the guy can be a team player."
- ^ Cuauhtemiña Archived 23 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Intergoals.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2008
- ^ Cuauhtemiña, YouTube.com.
- ^ "Así nació el festejo del 'Flechador'". El Universal. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ "Chicago Fire Player Bio". Chicago Fire S.C. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
Blanco is equally creative with his goal celebrations. To honor Mexican tradition and history, Blanco strikes the iconic pose of prehispanic ruler Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc...
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco, en el Top-5 histórico del futbol mexicano, opinan los expertos de ESPN". 18 January 2023.
- ^ Marshall, Tom (22 April 2015). "The five greatest moments of Cuauhtemoc Blanco's storied career". ESPN. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Cuauhtémoc Blanco – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "C. Blanco". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Cuau se registra como precandidato del Partido Socialdemócrata" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Cuauhtemoc Blanco jumps into politics, seeks mayoral seat in Mexico".
- ^ "Termina cómputo en Cuernavaca, confirman triunfo de Cuauhtémoc Blanco" (in Spanish). jornada.unam.mx. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Morelos Cruz, Rubicela. "Recuento confirma el triunfo de Cuauhtémoc Blanco en Cuernavaca". Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Revelan que Cuauhtémoc Blanco falseó residencia". Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Tribunal de Morelos valida constancia de residencia de Cuauhtémoc Blanco". Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "A Cuauhtémoc Blanco le pagaron 7 mdp para ser candidato en Cuernavaca". 26 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Corte mantieine suspensión contra el cese de Cuauhtémoc Blanco". 11 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "¿Quién es Cuauhtémoc Blanco?". 2 July 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco va por el gobierno de Morelos y con el apoyo de AMLO". Nacion 321. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco, nuevo militante de Encuentro Social". 14 March 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ Butrón, Jorge. "Cuauhtémoc Blanco atora la alianza entre PES y Morena". La Razon. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ Miranda, Justino (15 December 2017). ""Cuau" se medirá en encuesta con senador de Morena por candidatura en Morelos". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco gana precandidatura de Morena en Morelos". Forbes Mexico. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "'El Matador' presume al doble de Cuauhtémoc Blanco". Excelsior. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Miranda, Justino (2 April 2018). "Tras licencia del "Cuau", síndico Denisse Arizmendi alcaldía de Cuernavaca". El Universal. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Badillo, Diego (19 May 2018). "Cuauhtémoc Blanco sigue en la delantera en Morelos". El Economista. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco aventaja en Morelos con 50% de las preferencias: encuesta". ADN Politico. 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco gana las elecciones en Morelos". López Dóriga Digital. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco, el primer ex futbolista que será gobernador en México". Publimetro. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Miranda, Justino (7 July 2018). "Cuauhtémoc Blanco recibirá mañana constancia de mayoría en Cuernavaca". El Universal. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "En Morelos dejaron un chin... de delincuentes: Cuauhtémoc Blanco" [They left a f ... of criminals in Morelos: Cuauhtémoc Blanco]. El Sol de Tijuana. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco denuncia ante la FGR a Graco y familiares" [Cuauhtémoc Blanco denounces Graco and relatives to the Federal Attorney General] (in Spanish). La Jornanda. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Jaime Luis Brito (1 October 2019). "En medio de pugnas internas, Cuauhtémoc Blanco cumple un año en el gobierno de Morelos" [Amid internal struggles, Cuauhtémoc Blanco celebrates one year in the Morelos government]. Proceso (in Spanish).
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco: de ídolo deportivo a gobernador de un estado en llamas" [Cuauhtémoc Blanco: From sports hero to a state in flames]. Infobae (in Spanish). 3 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ Estrella Pedroza (14 October 2019), "Morelos: Presentan denuncia contra Cuauhtémoc Blanco, por dar trabajo a sus familiares" [Cuauhtémoc Blanco sued for giving jobs to relatives], Arestegui Noticias (in Spanish)
- ^ "Familia y amigos de Cuauhtémoc Blanco tienen altos cargos en su gobierno" [Family and friends of Cuauhtémoc Blanco have high charges in his government], Breaking (in Spanish), 9 October 2019
- ^ "El Gobierno no es el DIF, no es para la familia, dice AMLO a Cuauhtémoc Blanco" [The Government is not the DIF, it is not for the family, AMLO says to Cuauhtémoc Blanco], El Financiero (in Spanish), 11 October 2019
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco defiende a familiares suyos con puestos públicos" [Cuauhtémoc Blanco defends family and friends with public service positions], Noticias en la Mira (in Spanish), 10 October 2019
- ^ "Los peores y mejores gobernadores" [The worst and best governors]. La Jornada (in Spanish). 8 January 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco le responde a su esposa". 30 January 2003.
- ^ "Dónde está y en qué anda Liliana Lago". Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Se casa Cuauhtémoc Blanco con modelo brasileña".
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco anuncia que ya nació su bebé". 8 July 2016.
- ^ Powers, Scott (19 August 2009). "Blanco to appear on cover of "FIFA 10"". ESPN. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ Rosete, Erika (11 October 2024). "Denunciado por intento de violación el exfutbolista y diputado de Morena Cuauhtémoc Blanco". El País México (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Stars Come Out at First Ever Spanish-Language Awards Show to Honor the Best in Hispanic Sports".
- ^ "Tecate Sports Awards are a Knockout! | MyBoxingFans - Boxing News". 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Cuauhtémoc Blanco gana el Premio Nacional del deporte". 11 May 2009.
External links
[edit]- Cuauhtémoc Blanco – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Player stats at Federación Mexicana at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 April 2015)
- Cuauhtémoc Blanco – Liga MX stats at MedioTiempo.com (archived) (in Spanish)
- Cuauhtémoc Blanco at National-Football-Teams.com
- 1973 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Mexico City
- Men's association football forwards
- Liga MX players
- Club América footballers
- Club Necaxa footballers
- Santos Laguna footballers
- C.D. Veracruz footballers
- C.D. Irapuato footballers
- Dorados de Sinaloa footballers
- Lobos BUAP footballers
- Club Puebla players
- La Liga players
- Real Valladolid players
- Major League Soccer players
- Chicago Fire FC players
- Major League Soccer All-Stars
- Designated Players (MLS)
- Mexico men's international footballers
- FIFA Men's Century Club
- 1995 King Fahd Cup players
- 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- 1998 FIFA World Cup players
- 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 1997 Copa América players
- 1999 Copa América players
- 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 2007 Copa América players
- 2010 FIFA World Cup players
- CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
- FIFA Confederations Cup–winning players
- Olympic footballers for Mexico
- Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Mexican expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
- Mexican expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Mexican sportsperson-politicians
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- Mexican expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Social Democratic Party (Mexico) politicians
- People from Morelos
- People from Cuernavaca
- Governors of Morelos
- Politicians from Morelos
- Municipal presidents in Morelos
- 21st-century Mexican politicians
- Pan American Games medalists in football
- Pan American Games silver medalists for Mexico
- Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games
- Footballers at the 1995 Pan American Games
- Mexican men's footballers
- CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning players