Fernando Torres
From the youth system of Atlético Madrid to the first team: the boy who became the club's captain and a symbol of its fight.
via Wikipedia: Fernando Torres · see source
Fernando José Torres Sanz, known as 'El Niño' ('The Kid'), is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the current manager of Atlético Madrid B. Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, progressing through their youth system to the first team. He made his debut in 2001 and left the club with 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. In his prime, he was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, known for his pace, prolific goalscoring, and technical abilities.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Fernando José Torres Sanz
- Born
- 20 March 1984
- Birthplace
- Fuenlabrada, Spain
- Height
- 1.86 m / 6 ft 1 in
- Position
- Striker
- Current club
- Atlético Madrid B (manager)
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.
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.
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