Ricardo Zamora, He was the first great Spanish goalkeeper in history. Born in 1901 in Barcelona, “The Divine”, as was also known, handy during his childhood all kinds of sports (Athletics, swimming, boxing, pelota and even got to play football front) until in 1916 he signed for RCD Spanish.

What was the Zamorana stop?

At the blue and white club he began his first steps as a goalkeeper and quickly established himself as one of the best. A safe and sober style, tremendously effective according to the chronicles of the time, Ricardo Zamora showed his tremendous personality interventions of all kinds. So much so that he invented the call ‘Zamorana‘.

Ricardo Zamora went down in history for leaving the Zamorana save that consisted of repelling the ball with his elbow. Since then, this action has been called ‘the Zamorana‘.

The beginnings of Ricardo Zamora's career at Espanyol and Barça

three years lasted “The Divine” with the “parakeets”. In 1919, after a tough confrontation with the direction of the blanquiazules, Zamora signed for city rival, El FC Barcelona. With the Blaugrana won their first titles (of Cups) and his good work earned him to be summoned with the Spanish team at the Antwerp Olympic Games 1920. In the Belgian city, the Spanish team played successfully achieving its first international competition silver medal.

At the individual level, Zamora made an excellent performance highlighting his first game against Denmark, where the porter pulled over shoulders. As good role made at this meeting that following the famous phrase there arose “1-0 and goalkeeper Zamora”. His only moon, It was his expulsion in the match against Italy, expulsion would be the only one of his career.

The highlight good performance of goalkeeper caused around Antwerp, Ricardo asked for a raise, which he was flatly denied by the Barcelona. This brought him a blank year to Zamora, until finally in 1922 returned to Spanish. A signing for Espanyol, which it became a “boom” media of the time, since the club paid him españolista 25.000 pesetas Card, y 1000 monthly salary, all crazy for that time.

In the Spanish, eight remain until 1930. They would be great years for Zamora, It ended up being the goalkeeping in the first Football League in Spain 1929. Goalkeeper always well placed and excellent above, his team took advantage of the pull of her figure to play friendly matches in Spain and abroad (especially in America) and take economic slice of it (He came to collect 1000 pesetas per game).

Signing for Real Madrid and the World Cup 1934

In 1930, Ricardo Zamora was signed by Real Madrid in exchange of 150.000 pesetas, as a completely disproportionate figure shows that even 18 years later he was not surpassed by any other player. With white Chamartin defend the goal for six years, winning two league titles and two Cups Republic. In one of the leagues (31-32), Real Madrid finished undefeated throughout the competition and Zamora only got five goals at home).

Ricardo Zamora played the Italy World Cup 1934, where the team would fall against the hosts in the quarterfinals and Zamora would end up with two broken ribs after a match full of tension and violence. His last official match in Spain was the final of the King's Cup 1936 contested between Real Madrid and Barcelona, the first is carried by 2-1 thanks to a superb game Zamora, in which he highlighted an amazing save yours Escolà in the last minutes of meeting.

The Spanish Civil War cut short his long career

Initiated the Spanish military struggle, Zamora he was imprisoned and later allowed to take refuge in France, where he gave up football in Nice next to Samitier. Shortly after various teams coach was. His credit, include a silver medal (Antwerp 1920) five Cups, of the leagues, 46 internationalities (during 10 years Zamora played every team matches) and plenty of stops to remember.

The sports newspaper Marca awarded the first Zamora Trophy in his honor in 1959 the goalkeeping. A title that still stands. In 1978 finally he died, but he receives the Gold Medal of Sporting Merit. It was his last big hit. Of him he said Don Alfredo Di Stéfano that there have only been two goalkeepers: San Pedro in the sky, y Ricardo Zamora on earth. Don Alfredo word.