Zamora in 1981
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Jesús María Zamora Ansorena | ||
Date of birth | 1 January 1955 | ||
Place of birth | Errenteria, Spain | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
Real Sociedad | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1973–1974 | San Sebastián | ||
1974–1989 | Real Sociedad | 455 | (63) |
National team | |||
1978–1982 | Spain | 30 | (3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Jesús María Zamora Ansorena (born 1 January 1955) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.
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 amass a further 446 La Liga matches in the next 14 years, being an instrumental figure alongside namesake Jesús María Satrústegui.
Zamora's finest hour as a player undoubtedly came on 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 Basque 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. He scored three in 31 appearances the following campaign, as Sociedad renewed its 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.
Zamora played 30 times for Spain and scored three goals, his debut coming in a friendly with Italy on 21 December 1978. 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.