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the Statesman of Soccer
Already a legend in Mexico, Cuauhtémoc
Blanco has seen soccer grow to capacity crowds as a player in the
United States MLS league, thanks in part to strong
support from U.S. Hispanics.
By Abraham Mahshie
Adored in his native Mexico, fútbol star Cuauhtémoc
Blanco signed on for a third year of soccer in the U.S. in 2009,
bringing his aggressive play and self-styled moves back to Chicago’s
800,000 Hispanics and a growing cohort of Major League Soccer fans
around the United States.
Considered an elder statesman of soccer players, Blanco’s
career is not only lengthy but illustrious. At age 36, Blanco has
played 17 seasons as a professional soccer player in Mexico, Spain
and the U.S., including two World Cup appearances.
Raised in a disadvantaged suburb of Mexico City where he learned
to play soccer in the local fields, Blanco, a midfielder, is a past
winner of the FIFA Silver Ball and the Golden Shoe awards. He is
well-known for his intensity and unique Cuauhtémiña
or “Blanco Bounce” move, in which he jumps with the
ball held between his feet to escape defenders. He is also known
for honoring Mexican tradition after he scores a goal by striking
the iconic pose of prehispanic ruler Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc,
who attempted to save the Aztecs from Spanish Conquistadors.
Blanco ventured into Major League Soccer in the U.S. when he signed
in 2007 to play with the Chicago Fire, a move heralded by Hispanics.
After the announcement was made, he drew more than 5,000 fans —quite
a sizeable crowd considering no game was being played—to Toyota
Park as he conducted interviews with the media and signed autographs.
Blanco took some time out after a game recently to speak with Hispanic.
Usually a man of few words, he elaborated in his native Spanish
on what needs to be done for the game to grow in the U.S., his goals
for the future and his hopes for the Chicago Fire this year.
Hispanic Magazine: Entering your third year of MLS
play, how have you seen support for soccer grow in the U.S.?
Cuauhtémoc Blanco: Even though interest has increased, I
believe that it is still necessary for interest to grow even more.
The league has grown a great deal, and now it is better than it
was before.
HM: You are adored by fans in Mexico. How did your
fans and former teammates in Mexico view your move to the MLS? Did
some consider you a traitor?
CB: No, not at all, nor was it called into question. I began to
work with the dedication that I am known for, and everything has
gone very well. Here, there is a lot to do still—and a promising
future. However, to do this I am going to need help and I want to
take the opportunity of this interview to call on my [Mexican] teammates
to come and help me. I believe that interest in soccer has grown
quite a bit. Although here in the United States there are some coaches
who don’t look upon Hispanic players very well, but this can
change.
HM: Many Hispanic children in the U.S. don’t
grow up with the same enthusiasm for soccer as their parents may
have. As a Hispanic player, what can you do to encourage young Hispanics
to be more engaged in the sport?
CB: Here, they don’t take interest in what we call the “basic
skills.” [Teams] choose players from the universities, which
has not ceased to surprise me and I see as incredible. I think that
in this way MLS is not going to develop. The league can grow much
more as soon as the teams have their own training schools for the
development of new players.
HM: Is there something that you can do to increase
Hispanic participation in soccer?
CB: In training schools we could develop great talent training youth
from a very early age—beginning from [students age] 6 through
17, as happens with all the Mexican teams. Each team has its own
basic skills training and this is where the players come from [and
are recruited].
HM: Returning to soccer at age 36 and playing in the
U.S., what challenges do you now face that you didn’t earlier
in your career in Mexico?
CB: To continue doing the same things well in Chicago. Obviously,
a dream and an important challenge for me would be to win a championship
in Chicago. I was very close to achieving it but unfortunately by
committing some errors—defensively as well as offensively—I
didn’t. We hope to make it a reality this season.HM: Can you
identify any other personal challenges you face at this point in
your career?
CB: Not really. I feel happy in Chicago and [am very gratified]
the people love me very much. Actually, yes, there is something
that I would like to do. I would love to establish a soccer school
and a restaurant. But, this is more of a goal than a challenge,
and I’ll consider it later on.
HM: What kind of shot at a championship do the Chicago
Fire have this year?
CB: We have a great chance of achieving it. But to me personally,
I haven’t liked the reinforcements that have recently arrived
to the team. But, of course this is the exclusive decision of the
coach. So, if the coach makes an error, it is his fault.
HM: You are famous for your temperament on the field.
Do you think you have gotten more aggressive or calmer over the
years?
CB: I am calmer. I have always enjoyed having fun in la cancha.
It’s obvious that I don’t like to lose, but yes, I am
calmer.
HM: Calmer?
CB: Yes, of course. I address situations with greater calm. I have
to have more patience and tranquility in the games.
HM: What advice or suggestions can you give to future
young MLS players?
CB: I would advise them to always have a winning mindset. Train
with passion and prepare yourself well, as if you wanted to be someone
important in life.
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