Jesús María Zamora Explained

Jesús María Zamora
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Jesús María Zamora Ansorena
Birth Date:1 January 1955
Birth Place:Errenteria, Spain
Height:1.80 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Real Sociedad
Years1:1973–1974
Years2:1974–1989
Caps2:455
Goals2:63
Nationalyears1:1978–1982
Nationalcaps1:30
Nationalgoals1:3

Jesús María Zamora Ansorena (born 1 January 1955) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Rentería, Gipuzkoa, Zamora played his entire professional career with local club Real Sociedad. After a slow 1974–75 (nine games) he went on to make a further 446 La Liga appearances in the next 14 years, being an instrumental figure alongside the likes of namesake Jesús María Satrústegui.[1]

Zamora's finest hour as a player undoubtedly came in the last game (and literally the last second) of the 1980–81 season, as he scored the tying goal at Sporting de Gijón, giving the Basques the needed point to clinch the league title at the expense of Real Madrid, whose players were already celebrating after a 3–1 away win against Real Valladolid, only to be told about Zamora's feat over a radio broadcast.[2] [3] He scored three in 31 matches the following campaign, as Sociedad renewed their domestic supremacy.

After retiring in 1989, Zamora worked with his only club in several capacities. From 2002 to 2004 he assisted Raynald Denoueix, and aided to a runner-up position in his second year. However, after another legendary teammate, José Mari Bakero, was relieved of his general manager duties by him, in late 2006, the season ended in relegation, the first in 40 years, and Zamora too resigned.[4]

International career

Zamora played 30 times for Spain and scored three goals, his debut coming in a friendly with Italy on 21 December 1978.[5] He took part in the UEFA Euro 1980 and 1982 FIFA World Cup finals, retiring after the 0–0 draw against England on 5 July 1982, in the latter competition – this would also be longtime clubmate Satrústegui's last match.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Zamora. Real Sociedad legends – Zamora. El Diario Vasco. es. 25 April 2017.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110925212332/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31069/index.html Real Sociedad – The pride of San Sebastian
  3. http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1981/04/27/pagina-2/1064558/pdf.html ¡Vaya epílogo! (What a finish!)
  4. http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/PUB/2007/06/19/EMD20070619035MDP.pdf La presidenta asume las culpas del descenso (The president takes full responsibility for relegation)
  5. News: 1–0: Los jóvenes "Kubala-Boys" vendieron cara su piel. 1–0: Young "Kubala-Boys" made opposition sweat it out. Mundo Deportivo. es. 22 December 1978. 3 May 2016.
  6. Web site: World Cup 1982 finals. RSSSF. 23 February 2015.