# Ricardo Zamora

> Spanish association football player

**Wikidata**: [Q296337](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296337)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Zamora)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ricardo-zamora

## Summary

Ricardo Zamora Martínez was a Spanish association football player who played as a goalkeeper. Born on January 21, 1901, and died on September 8, 1978, he was known by the nickname "El diví" (The Divine) and is considered one of the most iconic goalkeepers in Spanish football history. His legacy is commemorated through the Ricardo Zamora Trophy, an award for goalkeepers established in 1959.

## Biography

- **Born:** January 21, 1901
- **Died:** September 8, 1978
- **Nationality:** Spanish
- **Full Name:** Ricardo Zamora Martínez
- **Nickname:** El diví
- **Height:** 194 cm
- **Citizenship:** Spain
- **Occupations:** Association football player; journalist; association football coach; actor
- **Field(s):** Sports (football/soccer)
- **Employer(s):** Not specified in source material
- **Education:** Not specified in source material

## Contributions

- **Playing Career:** Ricardo Zamora was a professional association football player who played as a goalkeeper, earning recognition as one of Spain's most celebrated goalkeepers.
- **Trophy Eponym:** The Ricardo Zamora Trophy (Trofeo Ricardo Zamora) was established in his honor in 1959, recognizing excellence among goalkeepers in Spanish football. The trophy is awarded to the best goalkeeper in La Liga each season.
- **Multi-Career Path:** Beyond his playing career, Zamora worked as a journalist, association football coach, and actor, demonstrating a multifaceted involvement in sports and media.

## FAQs

**What was Ricardo Zamora's primary profession?**
Ricardo Zamora was primarily known as a Spanish association football player who played as a goalkeeper, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Spanish football history.

**What is the Ricardo Zamora Trophy?**
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a Hispanic football award for goalkeepers that was established in 1959 in his honor. It is awarded annually to the best goalkeeper in La Liga, recognizing outstanding performance in Spanish football's top division.

**Did Ricardo Zamora have other careers besides football?**
Yes, in addition to being a football player, Ricardo Zamora worked as a journalist, an association football coach, and an actor, showing involvement across multiple fields within sports and entertainment.

**What was Ricardo Zamora's nickname?**
Ricardo Zamora was known by the nickname "El diví" (The Divine), reflecting his legendary status and exceptional goalkeeping abilities.

**When and where was Ricardo Zamora born and died?**
Ricardo Zamora was born on January 21, 1901, and died on September 8, 1978. He was Spanish by nationality.

## Why They Matter

Ricardo Zamora matters in the history of Spanish football because he established the standard for excellence in goalkeeping that influenced generations of subsequent players. His performances between the posts helped define what it meant to be a world-class goalkeeper in the early to mid-20th century. The creation of the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in 1959, one year after his death, ensures that his legacy continues to inspire current and future goalkeepers in Spain and across the Hispanic football world. His multi-faceted career as a player, coach, journalist, and actor also demonstrated the broader cultural significance of football figures in Spanish society during his era.

## Notable For

- Being one of the most iconic goalkeepers in Spanish football history
- Earning the nickname "El diví" (The Divine)
- Having the Ricardo Zamora Trophy named after him (established 1959) — a prestigious award for goalkeepers in Spanish football
- Height of 194 cm, making him a notably tall goalkeeper for his era
- Having a diverse career spanning playing, coaching, journalism, and acting
- Being recognized with multiple identifiers across major databases (Wikidata ID, IMDb, Library of Congress, etc.)

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Ricardo Zamora Martínez was born on January 21, 1901, in Spain. As a Spanish national, he grew up during a period when football was rapidly developing in the country, particularly in the Basque Country and Catalonia where the sport gained significant popularity. His height of 194 cm would later become a distinctive physical attribute that contributed to his effectiveness as a goalkeeper.

### Playing Career

Ricardo Zamora's primary profession was as an association football player, specifically as a goalkeeper. His career spanned the era when Spanish football was establishing itself as a major force in European football. Zamora earned the nickname "El diví" (The Divine), a testament to his extraordinary reflexes, positioning, and shot-stopping abilities that set him apart from his contemporaries. His performances at the highest level of Spanish football established him as a legendary figure in the history of the position.

### Coaching Career

Beyond his playing career, Ricardo Zamora pursued a career as an association football coach, applying his deep understanding of the goalkeeper position to develop and mentor future generations of players. This transition from player to coach was common among distinguished footballers of his era who sought to pass on their expertise to younger players.

### Media and Acting Career

Zamora's influence extended beyond the pitch through his work as a journalist, where he contributed to sports coverage and analysis, and as an actor, demonstrating the broader cultural reach that elite footballers possessed in Spanish society during the early to mid-20th century.

### Legacy and Honors

The most enduring recognition of Zamora's legacy is the Ricardo Zamora Trophy (Trofeo Ricardo Zamora), which was established in 1959. This prestigious award is presented annually to the best goalkeeper in La Liga, Spanish football's top division. The trophy serves as a permanent reminder of Zamora's impact on the position and his contribution to the sport's history. His name remains associated with excellence in goalkeeping, and recipients of the trophy are considered among the elite shot-stoppers in Spanish football.

### Personal Details

Ricardo Zamora passed away on September 8, 1978. Throughout his life, he maintained his Spanish citizenship. His full name was Ricardo Zamora Martínez, and he is identified by various aliases in official records. His legacy is preserved through multiple institutional identifiers, including his Wikidata entry, Library of Congress control number, and other cataloging systems that ensure his place in sports history is properly documented.

## References

1. BDFutbol
2. Transfermarkt
3. Spanish Biographical Dictionary
4. Great Russian Encyclopedia
5. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. Name and Title Authority File of Catalonia