2.7.13

Ricardo Zamora

He liked a drink (Cognac) and he liked a smoke (60 a day or Havana cigars, which he was once arrested for smuggling into Spain). Noted for spectacular saves and a trademark white sweater, Ricardo Zamora Martínez was probably the greatest goalkeeper of the first half of the 20th century. 


Club career:
RCD Espanyol  (1916–1919) Zamora's first success came in 1918 when Espanyol won the Campionat de Catalunya . He argued with the club directors and was transferred to Barcelona.

Barcelona (1919–1922)  At Barcelona  Zamora enjoyed 3 great years in which they won the Campionat de Catalunya 3 times (1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22) and the Copa del Rey twice (19201922).


RCD Espanyol (1922–1930) During Zamora's second spell at Espanyol he enjoyed another Campionat de Catalunya / Copa del Rey double (1928–29). He had begun inauspiciously though- suspended for a year for tax evasion relating to his signing on fee. 

Real Madrid (1930–1936) From 1931 onward the club was known as Madrid Football Club (during the Second Spanish Republic). The Copa del Rey became known as Copa de España: Madrid were winners in 1934 and 1936. They also won  La Liga twice (1931–32, 1932–33).




Catalunya
 Zamora played for the Catalunya team on a regular basis in the 1920s, winning the Copa Princep de Asturies 3 times (1922, 1924, 1926).

Spain

Zamora made his international debut in Spain's first official international- the 1-0 defeat of Denmark at the 1920 Olympics. Zamora's performances won him rave reviews during the tournament , but in only his 4th game, against Italy, he was sent off in the 79th minute for striking an opponent. Following the chaos of the final , Spain played Netherlands for the silver medal and won 3-1.
In the 1934 World Cup Spain beat Brazil in the first round. They then held hosts Italy to a 1-1 draw. Italy's roughhouse tactics put Zamora out of the replay (which, of course, Italy were never going to lose).


Zamora won 46 caps for Spain (W31-D7-L8). He conceded 42 goals and kept 20 clean sheets.


Despite being awarded the Order of the Republic in 1934, Zamora was not a Republican or a Catalan nationalist. 
During the Fascist war against the Republic the Fascists promoted the rumour that Zamora had been killed by Republicans. He was later taken prisoner by the Republicans (accused of having Fascist sympathies) and went into exile in France.