MADRID, 24 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, on behalf of the federative entity, has recognized the figure of José Ángel Zalba, historic president of Real Zaragoza who died last August, with an emotional tribute in which The Football Gold Medal has been presented to his family, according to a statement.
Taking advantage of the presence of the Spanish team in Zaragoza on the occasion of the match against Switzerland in the League of Nations, and in the framework of the meeting of the Federation of Shareholders and Partners of Spanish Football (Fasfe), founded by Zalba himself, Rubiales conveyed his affection to the family and has honored his figure, “essential for the growth of the Aragonese entity and national football,” according to the RFEF note.
“On behalf of all of Spanish football, we want to remember his image and an impeccable career of a lifetime,” said Rubiales, who also highlighted Zalba’s human condition and the relationship they had. The president presented Zalba’s family with the Spanish Football Gold Medal.
Zalba was president of the Maño club in the 1970s, being, at 29, the youngest to hold that position in a Spanish professional soccer club. He returned to Zaragoza in 1988, a second shorter stage that ended in 1992. In addition, he was a manager at the RFEF and, among other positions, he was the president of the organizing committee of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.