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Fernando Torres

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Fernando Torres
File:Fernando torres.jpg
Personal information
Full name Fernando José Torres Sanz
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Liverpool
Number 9
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 3, 2007

Fernando José Torres Sanz (born 20 March 1984) is a Spanish football player currently playing for Liverpool. He was born in Fuenlabrada, a large suburban town south of Madrid. At 17, he became the youngest player to play for Atlético Madrid and, two years later, the youngest to become its captain.

In the five seasons preceding his move to Liverpool from Atlético, Torres scored 75 goals in La Liga, a feat only bettered by Samuel Eto'o and David Villa during the same period. Prior to that, Torres also played two seasons in the Spanish second division, where he scored seven goals in 40 appearances.

Torres is nicknamed 'El Niño' (The Kid).[citation needed]

Early career

From an early age, Torres developed a bond with Atlético Madrid. His grandfather wasn't passionate about football in general but prided himself in being an Atlético supporter, and the younger Torres soon inherited his love for the club.[1]

When he was 7, Torres started playing regularly in an indoor league for his neighbourhood club, Mario’s Holland, as a forward. Three years later, aged 10, he progressed to playing for an 11-side team, Rayo 13. After an impressive season with his new club, in which he scored 55 goals, Torres was one of three Rayo 13 players who earned a trial with Atlético Madrid. He impressed the scouts and, aged just 11, joined the club in 1995.[1]

Club career

Atlético Madrid

1995-2000: Atlético youth team player

After progressing through the ranks for a few seasons, Torres won his first important youth title in 1998. Atlético sent an under-15 team to compete in Nike Cup Europe, against youth teams from prominent European clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Manchester United and Juventus. Atlético won the tournament, with Torres their leading player. He was later voted the best player in Europe for that age-group.[2]

In 1999, aged 15, Torres fulfilled his childhood dreams and signed his first contract with the club. He spent his first year playing in the promising Atlético youth team, but it was in the following season that he really made his mark.

2000-01: Debut season

The 2000–01 season had started badly, as Torres suffered a broken leg that kept him out of action until December, but that proved to be only a temporary setback. In February 2001, he was part of the Spanish under-16s team that won the Algarve Tournament, in May he was part of the same team that won the 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship and by the end of the season he was playing for Atlético's senior team. Torres's first team debut on May 27 2001, at El Calderón, against Leganés. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club, in a game against Albacete.[1]

2001-02: Promotion to La Liga

2001–02 saw Atlético win promotion back to La Liga. The then-17-year-old Torres didn't have the best of seasons in front of goal, though, netting only six times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División. In November, Torres represented Spain at the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championship. He scored one goal in three games, but the team didn't progress past the group stage. Later that season, in July, Torres won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Again he scored the only goal in the final and ended as the tournament's leading goalscorer (4 goals in 4 games) and best player.[2]

2002-03: La Liga debut

2002 saw Atlético Madrid returning to La Liga, the first division of Spanish football. In his first season playing in the top flight, Torres did not find the transition from second-tier football too much of a hindrance, and he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances as Atlético finished 12th. He also made his debut for the Spanish under-21 team.

2003-04: Atlético captain

In 2003-04 season Torres made further strides, and he scored 19 league goals in just 35 appearances. Aged just 19, he was also named Atlético's club captain. Atlético also improved, to 7th, but narrowly missed out on an automatic UEFA Cup place on the final day of the season by virtue of an inferior goal difference in their head-to-head record against Sevilla (2-1, 0-2). However, Atlético's 7th place finish in 2004 did allow them to compete in the Intertoto Cup, giving Torres his first taste of European club competition. They made the final, but lost on penalties, this time to Villarreal.

2005-07: Transfer speculation

After the 2006 World Cup, in which Torres participated as a member of the Spanish national team, the striker admitted that he had turned down the chance to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005-06 season.[3] And following the 2006-07 season, Torres's future at Madrid was once again the subject of speculation after Atlético's inability to secure an automatic UEFA Cup spot. Arsenal, Chelsea, Celtic, Liverpool and Manchester United were all linked with a move for the player,[4] with reports in the English media stating that Torres was the main transfer target of Liverpool.[5]

The rumours reached such a fever pitch that Atlético president Enrique Cerezo made a statement saying, "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player."[6] However, a few days later new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres; the fee rumoured was £20 million with Luis Garcia moving in the opposite direction in a separate transfer deal.[7] Then on 30 June Atlético announced a deal with Villareal to sign Diego Forlán, which was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure had become official.[8]

2007: Leaving Atlético

On July 2 it was reported Torres had cut short his holiday to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move. The following day, Torres passed a medical for Liverpool and it was announced that a farewell press conference would be held in Madrid the on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético Madrid fans. Later that day, Atlético officially confirmed his transfer to Liverpool on their website.[9]

Liverpool

Torres is Liverpool's record signing. Although the British media reported the transfer fee to be £26.5 million, Rafael Benitez confirmed in an interview with Spanish media that the deal was closer to £20 million. It was widely reported that Torres took a pay cut as part of the transfer – a drop from £103,000 a week in Spain, to about £90,000 according to The Times.[10]

Torres has been named the fastest player in the Liverpool squad by team-mate Peter Crouch. Along with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Torres was one of two Liverpool players nominated for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year.[11]. Torres, at Liverpool, has strengthened his reputation of scoring in crucial games and moments; a reputation acquired at his boyhood club Atlético Madrid; by scoring the first goal against one of Liverpool's major Premier League rivals Chelsea FC on his debut at Liverpool's stadium Anfield (August 19), scoring an extra-time last-gasp equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur securing a point for Liverpool, scoring again and again (completing a hat-trick) away against a determined Reading side in the Carling Cup (September 25) preventing the threat of a comeback [12], breaking a near-half hour 1-1 deadlock in the UEFA Champions League against FC Porto (November 28)in a must-win match at Anfield (in the 1-1 deadlock, Torres was the scorer for Liverpool) [13], and scoring a brilliant individual goal in the crucial and as it turned out historic last group match against Marseille.

On August 11, Torres made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2-1 win. As mentioned above, he scored his first English Premier League goal on his Anfield debut on August 19 against Chelsea FC, in the 16th minute. Torres's first hat-trick for Liverpool came in the aforementioned match versus Reading. On November 28, Torres scored his first two UEFA Champions League goals for the club in the aforementioned group game against F.C. Porto, which the Reds won 4-1.

International career

In February 2001, Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain under-16 team. In May, the under-16s took part in the 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship, which they also won, with Torres scoring the only goal in the final.[2] He finished as the tournament's leading goalscorer (7 goals in 6 games) and was also voted the best performer.

In 2003, Torres made his senior debut for the full Spanish national team on September 6, 2003 in a friendly against Portugal. His first goal for Spain came against Italy on April 28, 2004. At the end of the season Torres was chosen as part of the Spanish squad for Euro 2004. He only appeared as a late substitute in Spain's first two group games, but made the first eleven for the deciding game against Portugal. Torres hit the post in the 62 minute after Nuno Gomes put Portgual ahead on 57 minutes. Spain lost 1-0 and were eliminated.

At his first ever appearance in a World Cup finals at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Torres scored the final goal in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine with a volley. In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia, in the 76th minute for Spain to take the lead 2-1 and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th. Torres was dropped from the team for a friendly versus Romania in November 2006, but returned to the national side for the friendly against England in February 2007, a 1-0 win for Spain.

In Euro 2008 qualifiers, he scored the first goal in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein, shooting the ball into the top corner from 11 meters. Torres then played in a 3-2 loss to Northern Ireland. His Euro 2008 hopes took another bashing when they lost 2-0 to Sweden away. Torres was subbed in, in the 64th minute against Denmark, but failed to make an impact, his side narrowly beating Denmark 2-1 in Spain. Torres was dropped to the bench again, but came on in the 43rd minute for Fernando Morientes. He had two shots and failed to hit the target, but his side still won 1-0, from an 80th minute strike from Iniesta. Torres was totally left out of the squad in Spain's 2-0 win over Latvia, and the 2-0 win over Liechtenstein. He was brought back for the 1-1 draw with Iceland, his Liverpool team mate Xabi Alonso getting sent off. But he was back to his scoring ways with a late tap in against Latvia. Currently Spain lead the group, Torres with 2 goals, (0.36 a game).

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performance
Club Season England Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Liverpool 2007-08 13 6 0 0 1 3 5 3 19 12
Liverpool Total 13 6 0 0 1 3 5 3 19 12
Spain La Liga Copa del Rey - Europe Total
Atlético Madrid
(Primera División) 		2006-07 36 14 4 1 - - - - 40 15
2005-06 36 13 4 0 - - - - 40 13
2004-05 38 16 6 2 - - 5 2 49 20
2003-04 35 19 5 2 - - - - 40 21
2002-03 29 13 2 1 - - - - 31 14
Atlético Madrid
(Segunda División) 		2001-02 36 6 1 1 - - - - 37 7
2000-01 4 1 2 0 - - - - 6 1
Atlético Madrid Total 214 82 24 7 0 0 5 2 243 91
Career Totals 227 88 24 7 1 3 10 5 262 103
Last updated 11th December, 2007[1]

Career honours

Atlético Madrid

Spain

Personal Awards

  • Winner
    • 1998 Top under-15 European player
    • 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship: Top goalscorer (7 goals in 6 games), Best player
    • 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: Top goalscorer (4 goals in 4 games), Best player

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Fernando Torres official site". Retrieved December 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c Lowe, Sid (2007-07-04). "Will Torres be Kop's new God or just another Fernando?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-07-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "'Flattered' Villa to stay with Che". Sky Sports. 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Premiership - Summer transfer latest". Article on eurosport.yahoo.com. June 17, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Torres is Reds' number one target". Article in the Liverpool Echo. June 20, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Atlético deny Torres rumours". Article on skysports.com. June 25, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Liverpool Seal Torres Deal". Article on goal.com. June 29, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Liverpool to land £26.5m Torres". Article on news.bbc.co.uk. June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Fernando Torres has been transferred to Liverpool". Report on clubatleticodemadrid.com. July 3, 2007. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "The forward thinking that helped bring £20m Torres to Liverpool". Article on www.timesonline.co.uk. July 5, 2007. Retrieved December 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Road to Zurich begins in earnest". Article on www.fifa.com. October 9, 2007. Retrieved December 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Reading 2-4 Liverpool". Article on news.bbc.co.uk. September 25, 2007. Retrieved December 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Liverpool 4-1 FC Porto". Article on news.bbc.co.uk. November 28, 2007. Retrieved December 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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