Álex Blanco (footballer, born 1998)
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alejandro "Álex" Blanco Sánchez (born 16 December 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana.
|
Blanco 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alejandro Blanco Sánchez | ||
| Date of birth | 16 December 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Benidorm, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Olimpija Ljubljana | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Colegio Lope de Vega | |||
| Alicante | |||
| Kelme | |||
| 2011–2014 | Valencia | ||
| 2014–2016 | Barcelona | ||
| 2016–2017 | Valencia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2022 | Valencia B | 51 | (11) |
| 2018–2022 | Valencia | 13 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | → Alavés (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Zaragoza (loan) | 30 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | Como | 50 | (3) |
| 2024 | Reggiana | 4 | (0) |
| 2024– | Olimpija Ljubljana | 23 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2014 | Spain U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2016 | Spain U19 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 June 2025 | |||
Club career
Valencia Mestalla
Born in Benidorm, Alicante, Valencian Community, Blanco joined FC Barcelona's youth setup in 2014, from Valencia CF.[1] On 22 July 2016, he returned to the Che, being assigned to the Juvenil A squad.[2]
Blanco made his senior debut with the reserves on 16 September 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 Segunda División B away win against Atlético Saguntino. He scored his first goal on 9 December, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 draw at CE Sabadell FC.
On 18 January 2018, Blanco renewed his contract with Valencia until 2020.[3] On 4 February, he scored a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Saguntino.
Deportivo Alavés
Blanco made his first team debut on 30 October 2018, replacing fellow youth graduate Lee Kang-in in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Ebro, for the season's Copa del Rey.[4] On 31 January 2019, Blanco was loaned to fellow La Liga side Deportivo Alavés, until June.[5]
Blanco made his top tier debut on 3 February 2019, replacing Jonathan Calleri in a 3–0 loss at Real Madrid.[6] However, he only appeared in one further match before returning to his parent club.
Real Zaragoza
On 9 July 2019, Blanco extended his contract with the Che until 2021 and joined Real Zaragoza on loan for the season.[7] He scored his first professional goal the following 21 January, netting the opener in a 3–1 home win against RCD Mallorca for the national cup.
Valencia
On 29 September 2020, Blanco started Valencia's opening game of the 2020–21 La Liga season away to Real Sociedad, in a 1–0 win. He scored his first goal in the top tier on 21 March of the following year, netting his team's second in a 2–1 home success over Granada CF.
Italy
On 18 January 2022, he signed a contract with Italian Serie B club Como until the end of the 2023–24 season.[8]
On 31 January 2024, Blanco signed with Reggiana until the end of the season, with an automatic extension for 2024–25 if Reggiana stays in Serie B.[9]
Olimpija Ljubljana
On 30 August 2024, Blanco signed a two-season contract with Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia.[10] In his debut season with Olimpija Ljubljana, Alex Blanco made an immediate impact. He contributed to the club’s triumph in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, helping secure the league title.[11] Blanco also marked his European debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where he scored his first goal in continental competition. Over the course of the season, he netted a total of six goals, a notable milestone that represented one of the most successful chapters in his professional career to date.
Personal life
Blanco's father Tito was also a footballer. A midfielder, he also represented Barcelona.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 27 January 2024[13]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valencia B | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 30 | 6 | — | — | — | 30 | 6 | |||
| 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 51 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 11 | ||
| Valencia | 2018–19 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 | |||
| Total | 13 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||
| Alavés (loan) | 2018–19 | La Liga | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Zaragoza (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 30 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Como | 2021–22 | Serie B | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | Serie B | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24 | Serie B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 50 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 51 | 3 | ||||
| Career total | 146 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 19 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Segunda División play-offs
Honours
Valencia