1. Telmo Zarra spent the majority of his career at Athletic Bilbao, from 1940 to 1955, for whom he remains the top scorer in competitive matches with 335 goals.
16 Facts About Telmo Zarra
1. 2.
Telmo Zarra became a prolific goalscorer in his 15 seasons at the club, winning the Pichichi Trophy as the highest scorer in La Liga on six occasions.
3.
Telmo Zarra died of a heart attack on 23 February 2006, aged 85.
4.
Telmo Zarra was born on 20 January 1921 at the Asua train station in Erandio, Biscay.
5.
Telmo Zarra was the seventh of ten children, five of them boys.
6.
When he was young, Telmo Zarra used to play football with his neighbours.
7.
Telmo Zarra debuted with Athletic Club on 29 September 1940, in a league match against Valencia CF.
8.
Telmo Zarra was dispatched to Ceuta, and played some friendly matches with the team there.
9.
Telmo Zarra broke his clavicle and was unable to play for a while.
10.
Telmo Zarra made a move to trample the fallen player, as a joke, and he was sent off by the referee.
11.
Telmo Zarra would go on to win this award on five other occasions.
12.
On 11 March 1945, Telmo Zarra was selected by the Spanish coach Jacinto Quincoces to join the Spanish national team for a friendly match against Portugal in Lisbon.
13.
On 28 May 1950, Telmo Zarra again played in another Copa del Rey final, this time against Real Valladolid after Valencia CF was disbanded.
14.
Telmo Zarra opened the scoring at 14 minutes, but by end of regulation time the match was drawn.
15.
On 29 April 1954, Telmo Zarra received a tribute and benefit match in Madrid in recognition of his long career in Spanish football.
16.
Telmo Zarra was nearing the end of this career and watched as young, promising Athletic players took over his role on the team, including a young player named Eneko Arieta, who would become his successor.