Álex Blanco (footballer, born 1998)

For the Spanish footballer born in 2001, see Álex Blanco (footballer, born 2001).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Blanco and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Álex Blanco

Blanco 2021
Personal information
Full name	Alejandro Blanco Sánchez
Date of birth	(1998-12-16) 16 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Benidorm, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	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	10	(1)
International career
2014	Spain U17	3	(0)
2016	Spain U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 December 2024

Alejandro "Álex" Blanco Sánchez (born 16 December 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana.

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 Zagaroza

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]

Personal life

Blanco's father Tito was also a footballer. A midfielder, he also represented Barcelona. He is currently dating Spanish influencer Lidia Rauet[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 January 2024[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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

1. Appearance(s) in Segunda División play-offs

Honours

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 2018–19

References

1. "Álex Blanco, un extremo de dos bandas" [Álex Blanco, a two-sided winger] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
2. "Álex Blanco vuelve al Valencia" [Álex Blanco returns to Valencia] (in Spanish). La Taronja Deportiva. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
3. "El Valencia renueva a Álex Blanco, extremo del Mestalla" [Valencia renew Álex Blanco, Mestlala winger] (in Spanish). Levante-EMV. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
4. "Kang In starts making history with Valencia CF the same day that Alex Blanco makes his debut". Valencia CF. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
5. "Comunicado oficial | Álex Blanco" [Official statement | Álex Blanco] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
6. "El clavo ardiendo es Vinicius" [The burning nail is Vinicius] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
7. "El Valencia renueva a Álex Blanco y lo cede al Zaragoza" [Valencia renew Álex Blanco and loan him to Zaragoza] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
8. "ALEX BLANCO AL COMO FINO AL GIUGNO DEL 2024" (in Italian). Como. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
9. "L'attaccante Alex Blanco è un nuovo calciatore della Reggiana" [Striker Alex Blanco is a new player for Reggiana] (in Italian). Reggiana. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
10. "Alex Blanco je Zmaj!" [Alex Blanco is a Dragon!] (in Slovenian). Olimpija Ljubljana. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
11. "El Valencia renueva a Alex Blanco, el hijo del director deportivo del Levante" [Valencia renew Alex Blanco, the son of Levante's sporting director] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
12. "Álex Blanco". SofaScore. Retrieved 30 November 2019.

External links

• Álex Blanco at BDFutbol
• Álex Blanco at Soccerway