Fernando Torres

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Torres joined Atlético's youth system at age 11 in 1995. After progressing through the ranks, he won his first important youth title in 1998 when Atlético's under-15 team won the Nike Cup; he was later voted the best player in Europe for the age group. In 1999, at age 15, he signed his first professional contract with Atlético. He made his first-team debut on 27 May 2001 against Leganés at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. One week later, he scored his first goal against Albacete. In the 2002–03 season, his first in La Liga, he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances. In the 2003–04 season, he scored 19 league goals in 35 appearances, finishing as joint third-highest scorer in the league, and at age 19 was named Atlético's captain. In July 2003, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had a £28 million bid for Torres rejected. Torres scored 14 league goals in the 2006–07 season. On 4 July 2007, he held a press conference in Madrid to bid farewell to the Atlético fans before completing his move to Liverpool on a six-year contract.

In Their Own Story

Born in Fuenlabrada, Community of Madrid, Torres loved football as a child and joined his first youth team, Parque 84, at age five. His grandfather was an Atlético Madrid fan. Torres began playing football as a goalkeeper. At age seven, he began playing as a striker for Mario's Holanda, using characters from the anime Captain Tsubasa as inspiration. At age 10, he joined Rayo 13 and scored 55 goals in his first season. He later joined Atlético's youth system at age 11 in 1995. The 2000–01 season started poorly as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone which kept him out of play until December. He trained with the first team to prepare for pre-season, but eventually made his debut on 27 May 2001. Atlético were promoted to La Liga at the end of the 2001–02 season, though Torres netted only 6 times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División. In the 2003–04 season, Atlético finished seventh and qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Torres a first taste of European competition. He scored two goals in the two fourth round matches against OFK Beograd. Atlético reached the final but lost 3–1 on a penalty shoot-out to Villarreal following a 2–2 draw on aggregate.

Reader's Guide

Torres's first season in La Liga, 2002–03, saw him score 13 goals in 29 appearances, with Atlético finishing in 11th place. In the 2003–04 season, his second in La Liga, he scored 19 league goals in 35 appearances, finishing as joint third-highest scorer in the league. At age 19, Torres was named Atlético's captain. In July 2003, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had a £28 million bid for Torres rejected by Atlético's board of directors. In the summer of 2005, Chelsea were believed to be interested again, but club president Enrique Cerezo said they had 'no chance' of signing him. Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club was willing to listen to offers, and Torres claimed Newcastle United had made a bid in March. Torres stated after the 2006 FIFA World Cup that he had turned down an offer to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored 14 league goals in the 2006–07 season. On 30 June 2007, Atlético announced a deal to sign Diego Forlán from Villarreal, seen as a move to replace Torres. On 2 July, it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalise a move to Liverpool. The following day, he passed a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground. He held a press conference in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans, before completing his move to Liverpool on a six-year contract. The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool's history.

Did You Know?

• Torres began playing football as a goalkeeper before switching to striker at age seven.
• At age 10, he joined Rayo 13 and scored 55 goals in his first season.
• He joined Atlético's youth system at age 11 in 1995.
• In 1998, he was voted the best player in Europe for his age group after Atlético's under-15 team won the Nike Cup.
• At age 19, Torres was named captain of Atlético Madrid.