CUAUHTéMOC BLANCO

'Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo' (born January 17, 1973) is a Mexican football striker, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and for the Mexican national team, where he has a Golden Boot and a Silver Ball, both in Confederations Cup. He is regarded as one of the best strikers and most controversial football players in Mexico of all time.^[1] As of July 1, 2007, he is on the roster of Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, and he played his first game with the team in a friendly against Celtic F.C. on July 22, in which he scored Chicago's only goal in a 1-1 draw.

Contents

Career

Major League Soccer

Debut

Celebration

Other famous celebrations

Controversy

Trivia

Honors

Club Honors

International Honors

Individual Honors

External links

References

Career

Cuauhtemoc Blanco made his debut in the Primera División de México in 1990 at age 17 with Club América. Seven years later, he was sent to play with Necaxa, and returned 2 years later to Club América. In 2000 Blanco was transferred to Real Valladolid in Spain where he played for 2 years before returning again to América. In 2004, after being involved in a training-ground bustup at the Estadio Azteca, Blanco was loaned to CD Veracruz for six months before returning to Club América. Blanco has played for the Mexican National Team in two World Cups, France '98 and Korea-Japan 2002, scoring a total of two goals. He was a member of the Mexican National Team that won the Confederations Cup in 1999 where he was the tournament's leading scorer with 9 goals. He was awarded the Golden Boot and Silver Ball. Blanco holds the record with Ronaldinho as the highest-scoring players in the Confederations Cup with 9. (See Confederations Cup goalscorers). He is one of the top scorers of the Mexican National Team only nine goals behind the top scorer of all time Jared Borgetti. Following this tournament, Blanco attracted attention from both Spanish and German clubs (citation needed).
In May of 2005, Blanco won his first club championship as a player, leading Club América to its tenth league title, when the "Aguilas" defeated the UAG Tecos by an aggregate score of 7-4 (1-1, 6-3). Blanco is one of Mexico's best attacking strikers and one of the league's most prolific scorers still in activity, with nearly 150 goals to his name. He has amassed 90 caps and scored 32 goals for his country. Blanco was responsible for introducing a novel footballing technique known popularly in México as the 'Cuauteminha' (Also known as the 'Blanco Bounce' or 'Bunny Hop'), whereupon he would tuck the ball between his feet and leap over tackling or on-rushing opponents with the ball still clutched in the same position. This move was introduced in the 1998 World Cup against South Korea. In the selection for the final 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, coach Ricardo Lavolpe left Blanco out of the team. While the ostensible reason is that Blanco is frequently injured and not in good form, some people considered this to be a consequence of the previous year's constant bickering and due to personal problems with the player. He went on to then threaten Ricardo Lavolpe and his family by saying, "I hope that the selection comes back home with the cup in their hands or something might happen to Lavolpe and his family."

Major League Soccer

On April 2, 2007, Cuauhtémoc Blanco was welcomed by the Chicago Fire with around 5,000 fans at Toyota Park as he signed autographs and shook hands with fans. Blanco will be wearing number 10 as he did with Club America. "I am coming to Chicago," Blanco told the Bridgeview crowd.
"I am very happy and will give 100 percent for Chicago to be in the final. I look forward to working with this group of players to bring a championship to Chicago, a community that has always supported me, in good times and in bad times. I hope to bring great satisfaction to all of you."

Debut

On July 22, 2007, which was his debut, he scored the first and only goal against Celtic F.C. in an exhibition game. The game later ended on a 1-1 score. In the game he used his signature move "Cuauhtéminha" in between two defenders, which came out completed.

Celebration

From very early on in his career, Blanco decided to celebrate in a trademark position imitating the Prehispanic Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc, in order to represent the people of Mexico. This celebration is Blanco's signature and one of the most famous celebrations in Mexico.

Other famous celebrations

★ The bad relationship between Blanco and Ricardo Lavolpe has lasted for more than 5 years, since when words were said before a match between Club América and CF Atlas, where Lavolpe was head coach; Blanco scored a goal in that match and celebrated by laying on the floor in front of Lavolpe.

★ In another match Félix Fernández offended Cuauhtemoc, and so Cuauhtemoc told him, "Beg God that I don't score a goal because i´m gonna leave a stain on you." He scored a goal in the match and celebrated by pretending to be a dog urinating on Felix. ^[2]

Controversy

He has been involved in many controversial events in his career, establishing a reputation of being loved or hated, with no middle opinions about him. He has been subject of the media with relationships with Galilea Montijo and many more personalities, and inside the pitch he is known for provoking opponents and referees alike.
He also punched TV Azteca reporter David Faitelson in his locker room in a game between America and Veracruz in the Luis Pirata Fuente Stadium, and TV Azteca started a war with Blanco, in which Jose Ramon Fernandez (who has always been very critical of him) called him a coward. ^[3]

Trivia

★ The name Cuauhtémoc comes form the Nahuatl words ''Cuauhtli'' and ''Temoc'', where ''Cuahtli'' means eagle, curiously, the mascot of Club América.

★ When he played on the Tiburones of CD Veracruz, he used to be called Tiburón Blanco (White Shark); he therefore modified his celebration, putting a hand to his head like a fin.

★ When Ricardo Lavolpe decided not to include Blanco in the national team, a large group of fans organized a 15km protest march.^[4]

★ He has been a Club America fan since he was 6 years old.^[5]

★ Cuauhtemoc has the World Cup record for most fouls received.

★ Cuauhtemoc is currently (as of May 5, 2007) the second best all-time Mexican goalscorer in the Copa Libertadores tournament. He has 15 goals to his name only behind Juan Francisco Palencia with 16 goals.

Honors

Club Honors

'Club America'

★ ''Mexican Championship'' - Clausura 2005

★ ''Mexican Championship'' - Campeón De Campeones (Mexican Super Cup) 2005

★ ''CONCACAF Champions' Cup'' 2006

International Honors

'Mexico'

★ ''Confederations Cup 1999''

★ ''CONCACAF Gold Cup 1996''

★ ''CONCACAF Gold Cup 1998''

Individual Honors

★ Top-scorer in the Mexican League , Invierno 1998

★ Top-scorer in the Confederations Cup - 1999

★ Silver Ball in the Confederations Cup - 1999

★ Most valuable player, Mexico - Invierno 1998

★ Most valuable player, Mexico 2005

★ Most valuable player, Mexico 2006

★ Most valuable player, Clausura 2007

★ Best Mexican Player - Season 2001/2002

External links

★ MLS Chicago Fire player page

★ Cuauhtémoc Blanco Article (In Spanish)

★ Football Database.com provides Cuauhtémoc Blanco's profile and stats

★ Profile and Statistics (In Spanish)

★ Club América team website (In Spanish)

★ Photo gallery and article (In Spanish)

References

1. ESPN Deportes.com
2. Entrevista
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYGDcwvDMs
4. Marcha Pro-Cuauhtemoc www.oem.com.mx
5. Entrevista