The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 66- A video Interview and blog presentation with Former goalkeeper, football data analyst and writer, Mr. Daniel Campos on the career of Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano

 

The trajectory of Chile’s Goleador: Ivan Zamorano

 

In a rich career Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano earned as much as three nicknames (Bam Bam, ‘Ivan Le Terrible’ and the Helicopter).

He was born on January 18, 1967, in the Santiago suburb of Maipu. He had to assume responsibilities early in his life as his father passed away when Ivan was just 13 years old.

His father was a driver for Coca-Cola and had been a non-professional footballer and transmitted his love of the game to his son.

Ivan Zamorano’s beginnings could have been at the Nation’s biggest club, Colo Colo. However, they rejected him as he was deemed too thin.

Therefore, his Football story began at age 17 at CD Cobresal, at the town of El Salvador, more than 600 miles from Santiago. He would be loaned for six months to Cobreantino in the Second Division and then back for the next two years.

As a youngster he earned his first nickname, ‘Bam Bam’, because he was small but tough like the cartoon character.

 

Initially, at Cobresal, he was deployed as a Libero (for five months) due to his prowess in jumping, before he returning to his natural position of striker.

He made his National debut aged 19 in 1987. While on Tour with the National Team in Greece in 1988, he was approached by representatives of Italian side Bologna.

Zamorano accepted the offer, but soon he was faced with the reality of foreign player restrictions. He was the fourth foreigner at Bologna (three authorized at the time), along with compatriot Hugo Rubio, the Belgian Stephane Demol and Finland’s Mika Aaltonen.

He agreed to join Swiss side St. Gallen to earn playing time. Despite his initial reticence, he credited his spell in Swiss Football for preparing him for European Football and subsequent moves to bigger clubs.

He felt he was too young to cope and adapt to Italian Football and Swiss Football was an important intermediary step.

According to the player, at Switzerland, he could write his own story.

He would explode on the scene in Switzerland, by scoring regularly in his two seasons there (1988/89) (1989/90).

It was there also that he earned his second nickname, Ivan Le Terrible.

Zamorano had scored four goals for St Gallen in a win (4-3) over Neuchatel Xamax. Following this match, the Franco-Swiss Television made a report on him and this nickname stuck.

The success in Switzerland earned him a transfer to the more demanding Spanish League in 1990. He joined Sevilla managed by another compatriot Vicente Cantatore, His first season (1990/91) would be somewhat disappointing and his partnership with Austrian striker Toni Polster, left a lot to be desired.

At the end of the season, he participated in the 1991 Copa America hosted by Chile and Zamorano impressed with his five goals.

He received many offers, but Sevilla President Luis Cuervas refused all advances.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1991 

For the 1991/92 season, Polster had left to join Logrones and Zamorano was now the vital element in attack under new Manager Victor Esparrago.

Zamorano would be impressive in this season and would be rewarded with a move to Real Madrid.

It’s interesting to note that had Real Madrid won the League title in 1992, Leo Beenhakker would have remained in charge and had an agreement in place to sign German striker Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, Beenhakker departed after Real Madrid’s last day loss at Tenerife that handed the title to Barcelona, and with him the Klinsmann deal was gone.

Instead, with new Manager Benito Floro, Real Madrid signed Zamorano (becoming the most expensive Chilean signing at the time).

Before joining Real, he had offers from several Italian sides as well as Bayern Munich.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 54, July 1993

(Ivan Zamorano at Real Madrid (1992/93))

Zamorano would have an excellent first season (1992/93) with Real Madrid, despite another final day loss at Tenerife, that once again handed the title to Barcelona.

Real Madrid did win the Copa Del Rey that season.

Zamorano’s goalscoring (26 in the first season) had earned the Madrid fans’ adoration. He was only second in the Pichichi race to Deportivo La Coruna’s Brazilian striker Bebeto (29 goals).

He felt his best asset as a goalscorer was his heading ability, as he jumped high and was mobile.

He earned his third nickname of ‘Helicopter’, because when jumping to head he stayed in the air for some time…just like a helicopter.

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1993

His second season (1993/94) was not as prolific as the first and soon Floro was to be replaced.

The new Manager for the 1994/95 season was the Argentine Jorge Valdano. He was not convinced by Zamorano and wanted to replace him (there were rumors that the Uruguayan Ruben Sosa was a potential target).

However, Zamorano refused to leave and eventually earned Valdano’s trust as Real Madrid won the League title and Zamorano ended as Pichichi with 28 goals.

He was also elected as La Liga’s Best Foreign Player for the 1994/95 season.

He remained one more season at Real Madrid before joining the Italian Serie A and Internazionale Milano in 1996.

Photo From: Don Balon, Edicion Chile, Issue 200, April 16-22, 1996

Photo From: Don Balon, Edicion Chile, Issue 200, April 16-22, 1996

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, March 1994

 

Internationally, Zamorano had been deprived of any World Cups because of the 1989 qualifiers vs. Brazil and Roberto Rojas’ fake injury. In the aftermath, Chile had been eliminated from the 1990 World Cup and banned from the 1994 edition.

Now approaching the age of 30, and Captain of the National Team, he was getting near to the World Cup. Along with the help of his new strike partner and emerging star Marcelo Salas, Chile qualified to the 1998 World Cup.

The now veteran Zamorano was able to play in his only World Cup in France.

 

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 114, July 1998

(Ivan Zamorano, June 27, 1998, World Cup, Brazil 4-Chile 1)

Back at Inter, he saw the arrival of a certain Ronaldo in 1997. His playing and goal output would be restricted due to injuries as well as fierce competition with the likes of Djorkaeff, Recoba and Kanu to partner the Brazilian.

He said he encountered the greatest difficulties of his career that season (1997/98), physical or otherwise.

He nevertheless was instrumental in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final vs. Lazio and scored a goal in the (3-0) and earned his first silverware at European level.

He stated he was proud to have won a European Cup and becoming the first Chilean to do so.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 113, June 1998

(Ivan Zamorano, May 6, 1998, UEFA Cup, Internazionale Milano 3-Lazio 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 95, December 1996

(Ivan Zamorano at Internazionale Milano 1996/97)

Zamorano had been able to retain his number 9 jersey in Ronaldo’s first season (the Brazilian wearing number 10), but as Nike became the official kit suppliers of Inter for the 1998/99 season, Ronaldo obtained the number 9 jersey.

In this second season at Inter, Zamorano would be famous for wearing a number 18 jersey, however, this number 18 jersey would have a plus sign in between (1+8=9).

 

Surprisingly in this latter stage of his career, Zamorano would also participate in the Olympics.

Chilean National Team Manager Nelson Acosta, also the Olympics Manager, selected him as one of his authorized over-23 players in the 2000 Olympics in Australia.

There were some questions about his selection in an U-23 Tournament, but Zamorano himself did not see the problem. He stated that Carl Lewis had won a medal at the age of 32, and he would like to do it at age 33.

Acosta also stated that he had selected Zamorano to relay his experience to the younger players.

Zamorano was the top goalscorer with six goals in the Tournament as Chile won the bronze medal.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2842, September 26, 2000

(Ivan Zamorano in the 2000 Olympics)

 

However, his time was coming to an end with the National Team as Chile struggled in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

In March 2001, Chile Federation President Mario Mosquera said that it would be preferable for Zamorano to end his National Team career as he had not been at his best for two years.

His decision was hastened as Mosquera sacked Acosta at the end of 2000.

After Chile’s (0-1) loss to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on April 25, 2001, Zamorano announced his International retirement.

 

He chose to have a friendly vs. France on September 1, 2001, as his farewell match. Chile won (2-1) at Santiago’s Eastadio Nacional.

At first, the Chilean Federation had refused his request, preferring a match at the end of the year, but Zamorano got his way.

Now aged 34, Zamorano ended his National Team career as the record goalscorer (34 goals in 69 appearances).

 

His last years included a spell at Mexican side America (2001/03). He would win the Torneo de Verano in 2002 with the side.

He ended his career with Colo Colo in 2003 (the club that rejected him as a youngster).

 

Until the emergence of Marcelo Salas, he was perhaps the most well-known Chilean Footballer of his era.

His success was not measured by the number of titles but with linear progression to the top.

He succeeded at some of Europe’s best sides and Leagues at a time, when Chilean exports were rare.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2890bis, August 31, 2001