Mexican King, European Misery: The story of Cuauhtémoc Blanco with Real Valladolid

Cuauhtémoc Blanco is considered to be one of the most successful Mexican footballers to have ever played the game. Despite playing predominantly in the Primera Division/Liga MX with clubs such as Club America, Veracruz, Dorados, Puebla and Santos Laguna, Blanco also made a splash in Europe with Real Valladolid in the Spanish La Liga. Cuauhtémoc Blanco's time in Europe was short-lived but he got the chance to take his talents abroad. 

Cuauhtémoc Blanco spell in Europe with Real Valladolid

After an impressive 8 years (1992 - 2000) with Club America, only truncated by a 2-year loan spell at Veracruz, Cuauhtémoc Blanco set out to explore the European football scene. Blanco had scored an astonishing 55 goals in just 153 matches in his stay at the Primera Division when Real Valladolid came for his services in 2000. Thus, he joined the La Liga side, going to Europe for the first time.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco was unlucky when he got to Real Valladolid with his first season (2000/01) for the club marred by a horrific injury he picked up while on duty for the Mexican National team. The injury would rule him out for 8 months, limiting him to just 3 appearances in the 2000/01 La Liga. He didn't score any goals in his first season at Real Valladolid.

The second season, 2001/02, saw Cuauhtémoc Blanco start with a clean bill of health and he set about lighting up the La Liga. Blanco made a total of 20 league appearances that season, scoring 3 goals for Valladolid. One of his goals was the memorable free-kick he scored against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on 29th September, 2001. This was his first goal for Valladolid and it helped his club earn a point on their visit to the capital club. 

Cuauhtémoc Blanco career after Europe spell

After his short 2-year sojourn in Europe, Cuauhtémoc Blanco returned to the familiar surroundings of Club America where he regained his form and scored another 31 goals in 74 matches over the 2002/03 and the 2003/04 seasons. Spells with Chicago Fire (MLS), Veracruz, Irapuato, Dorados, Santos Laguna, Puebla and a final season with Club America followed before Blanco retired in 2015.