Name: Telmo Zarraonandia Montoya
Country:
SpainClub: Athletic Bilbao
Position: *CF, WF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 23-29 years (20/01/1921)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Attack: 94
Defence: 31
Balance: 83
Stamina: 78
Top Speed: 84
Acceleration: 82
Response: 93
Agility: 82
Dribble Accuracy: 79
Dribble Speed: 78
Short Pass Accuracy: 73
Short Pass Speed: 67
Long Pass Accuracy: 75
Long Pass Speed: 71
Shot Accuracy: 92
Shot Power: 83
Shot Technique: 90
Free Kick Accuracy: 71
Curling: 73
Header: 94
Jump: 85
Technique: 79
Aggression: 96
Mentality: 76
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 75
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 7
Weak Foot Frequency: 7
Consistency: 7
Growth Type: Standard
CARDS:
S01 - Marauding
S03 - 1-on-1 Finish
P13 - Goal Poacher
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Positioning - Reaction - Scoring - 1 on 1 Scoring
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
INFO:
Telmo Zarra was the most prolific goal scorer in the Spanish Football League, or La Liga as it is known and his record of 252 goals. Zarra was born in 1921 and he died aged 85 in 2006. He had nine siblings, four brothers and five sisters. He used to play football with his older brothers and was soon playing for local teams. His first professional game was in 1937 with S. D. Erandio when he was only 16.
He was recruited by Athletic Bilbao in 1940 and in his first match (against Valencia) which was a 2-2 draw, he scored both of Athletic’s goals. The following year he had to serve in the army for a year. On his return to the team he scored the only goal in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
Every year Marca, a Spanish sports journal, would award the “Pichichi” Trophy to the top goal scorer. Zarra won this for the first time in 1945 and went on to win it five more times until 1953.
His first match for the Spanish national team was in 1945 and he played in the World Cup of 1950 where he again proved to be a prolific scorer of goals. During this World Cup he played in a match between Spain and England; a match which he subsequently credited as being the game of the century. England needed only a draw and played very defensively but he was still able to score the only goal of the match taking Spain to the semi-finals; it was his most famous goal.
His record single season goal scoring record was between 1950/51 when he scored 38 goals in 30 league games. He missed the following season due to injury but on returning the following year he scored in 25 of the 29 games he played. He finally retired from the sport in 1957 but continued to participate in football as an amateur. The Zarra Trophy is awarded in his memory.