Pay attention to details and remember legendary players. Protecting a jersey stands as one of the finest legacies a football club can leave behind. Espanyol from Barcelona is among those stories. In every match at Cornellà-El Prat Proscenium Stadium, before celebrations begin, the team gathers the visiting goalkeepers and presents them with a commemorative shirt featuring spades to honor the legendary Zamora, the iconic figure for the Periquito club and the Spanish national scene.
This moment occurred on a Saturday during Elche CF’s visit. Before the blue and white clash could unfold, the green and white colors were kept in the spotlight as Thomas N’Kono—the revered goalkeeper of the Periquito family—brought Elche’s goalkeeper Miguel, who doubles as a goalkeeper coach and serves as Barcelona’s corporate representative, into the goal area. There, San Román and Edgar Badía joined the event, along with the Elche president, Joaquin Buitrago, who helped present the gift and reminded everyone of Zamora.
Elche welcomed the gesture with warmth. It carried extra meaning for the Franjiverdes, given that Edgar Badía has a Spanish background and San Román is the son of Miguel “El Pechuga” San Román, a celebrated keeper for Atlético Madrid. The moment underscored a shared history that transcends a single matchday.
Yet the result on the field did not favor Elche, who slipped to a 2-0 defeat. San Román did not deliver a standout performance this time. Still, the gesture and the preserved jersey carried a lasting impact, adding a memorable chapter to Elche’s lore and the broader narrative of Zamora’s enduring influence in Spanish football.