Ismael Blanco: a striker’s personal rebuild after retirement | OneFootball

The Frustrated International Fate: Egypt and the Myth of the Name

During his career, Ismael Blanco was on the radar of Egypt’s national team. The first approach came around 2009, while the striker was shining in Greek football. At the time, officials from the Egyptian federation were drawn to his name, mistakenly assuming he had Arab ancestry, a confusion that was ruled out after tracing his true origins in his hometown. Years later, in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and with Héctor Cúper in charge of the national team, the interest resurfaced strongly. Contacts were formalized with the intention of fast-tracking his passport (just one month before the World Cup), although in the end the naturalization process did not go through.

As for his time at Colón, Ismael Blanco has a very deep and special bond with the Santa Fe institution, as it represents both the beginning of his professional football career and his lasting roots in the region.

The main highlights of this relationship include:

The Tough Road to Retirement and His View of the Football Environment

After an extensive career that took him through the leagues of Greece, Mexico, Ecuador (where he wore the Barcelona shirt), Germany, and Poland, as well as spells at various Argentine clubs such as Colón, Atlético Tucumán, Mitre, and Olimpo, Blanco brought his career as a professional footballer to an end. The striker admitted that the transition into retirement is a complex and jarring process. Adapting to “normal life” and starting to spend weekends at home meant a major change in routine both for him and for his family.

Reflecting on the way football operates, he described agents as a “necessary evil.” Despite having maintained a loyal and long-lasting relationship with his agent, Juan Berros, from his beginnings at Colón until the age of 32, he acknowledged that the world of player representation is extremely complex. For that reason, and although he has received offers to get involved in that field, he prefers to stay away from it.

Present Day, Roots, and New Projects

Today, Ismael Blanco has chosen Santa Fe province as the place where he and his wife will settle permanently. Far from living a passive life, he divides his time between two main activities:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.