Mexico football legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco was sworn in as mayor in the crime-plagued city of Cuernavaca on Wednesday, with the playmaker tackling tough political opposition before kicking off his tenure.
Blanco took the oath of office at Cuernavaca City Hall, looking like a veteran football manager in a black suit and tie as he vowed to “change Cuernavaca.”
The 42-year-old former forward retired from football on a high note in April, winning the Mexican Cup with Puebla before diving into politics.
When he was elected with the small Social Democrat Party in June, he celebrated his victory over his opponents with a crude remark, saying: “I screwed them.”
The player who dribbled past defenders in his heyday in Mexico, Spain and the United States faces challenges in the political and criminal fronts.
While the city is a popular weekend getaway for many Mexico City residents, in recent years it has also been plagued by kidnappings and extortion rackets.
Blanco also has to deal with politicians who threatened to tackle his mayoral powers even before he took office.
