Ismael Blanco

Ismael Blanco (born on January 19 1983 in Santa Elena, Entre Ríos) is an Argentina football (soccer) player currently playing as a striker for AEK Athens F.C in the Super League Greece.

Club career

Colón

Blanco started his career with Colón de Santa Fe in 2002. He was performing well until he suffered a serious knee injury.

Club Libertad

Losing his place on the first team he was loaned to Club Libertad in Paraguay with whom he played in Copa Libertadores 2005 scoring twice during his team's unsuccessful effort in Group 1.

Olimpo

After his loan spell in Club Libertad he returned to Argentina to play on loan for Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, a Primera B Nacional Argentina team. During his stay there he managed to score 33 times in 62 games helping his team win the Primera B Nacional and the promotion to Primera División Argentina, topscoring in both the Apertura 2006 (18 goals) and the Clausura 2007 (11 goals). In 2007 he rejoined Colón.

AEK Athens

He didn't stay with Colón for long as in August 10 2007 Blanco joined AEK Athens F.C on loan for €450,000 with an exit clause of €850,000 euros. His desire to display his football talent in Europe and the opportunity to play alogside Brazilian legend Rivaldo were stated as the main reasons of his move to Greece. He got his first cap in an UEFA Cup match against FC Red Bull Salzburg on September 20 2007. He then debuted in the Super League Greece against Atromitos F.C and scored twice leading AEK Athens to a 2-0 win. On September 26 2007 in a match against Veria FC, after putting AEK Athens in front, Blanco revealed a Zorro mask from his sock and drew a big Z in the air celebrating the winning goal. Blanco's first goal in a European competition occurred on February 13 2007 against Getafe CF with a stunning back flick in the 94th minute to end the game as a 1-1 draw. Blanco finished top scorer in the Super League Greece 2007-08 having scored 19 goals. His performances led AEK Athens to announce the activation of the clause in his contract on April 28 2008 . Blanco started his 2nd season in AEK in a great way scoring the winning goal via a penalty against Panathinaikos FC in the year's first derby match.

Honours

Olimpo de Bahía Blanca
- Primera B Nacional Argentina: Apertura 2006, Clausura 2007

Individual
- Primera B Nacional Argentina Top Goalscorer: Apertura 2006, Clausura 2007
- Super League Greece List of top goalscorers in Super League Greece by season: 2008