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Fernando Torres

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Fernando Torres
File:FernandoTorresLiverpool.jpg
Personal information
Full name Fernando José Torres Sanz
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Liverpool
Number 9
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 30 2008

Fernando José Torres Sanz (born 20 March 1984 in Madrid, Spain), nicknamed El Niño ("The Kid"), is a Spanish footballer, who plays for Liverpool.

Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, with whom he progressed through the youth ranks. He made his professional debut in 2001 and finished his career with the club having scored 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. Prior to this, Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División, making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals. He joined Liverpool in 2007, after the club paid their record transfer fee to sign him and marked his first season with the club by being their first player to score more than 20 league goals for the club in a season since Robbie Fowler in 1995–96.

He is also a Spanish international and made his debut for the team against Portugal in 2003. He has since participated in three major tournaments; UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. He was unable to score for Spain during the 2004 tournament, but did so on three occasions in the 2006 World Cup. Torres scored the winning goal for Spain in their 1–0 win over Germany in the Euro 2008 final.

Early career

Torres, born on 20 March 1984, became interested in football as a child and joined his first team, Parque 84, at the age of five.[1] His grandfather was not passionate about football, but prided himself in being an Atlético Madrid supporter, and Torres inherited his love for the Madrid club.[1]

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

Club career

Atlético Madrid

Torres arguing with the referee during a match with Atlético

After progressing through the ranks, Torres won his first important youth title in 1998. Atlético Madrid sent an under-15 team to compete in the Nike Cup, both domestically and European, to play youth teams from prominent European clubs; Atlético won the tournament.[1][2] He was later voted the best player in Europe for that age-group.[2] In 1999, aged fifteen, Torres signed his first contract with Atlético Madrid.[1] He spent his first year playing in the youth team team and them moved onto the participating in the Honour Division when he was 16.[1] The 2000–01 season had started badly, as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone that kept him out of action until December.[1] Torres trained with the first team to get prepared for pre-season, but eventually made his debut for the team on 27 May 2001, at Vicente Calderón, against Leganés.[1] A week later, he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete and the season finished with Atlético narrowly missing out on promotion to La Liga.[1]

The 2001–02 season saw Atlético win promotion back to La Liga, which was a poor one for Torres, during which he netted only six times in 36 appearances in the Segunda Division.[3] Torres' first season at the highest level of Spanish football, 2002–03, was a good one which saw him manage to score 12 goals in 29 appearances as Atlético finished 11th.[1][3] In the 2003–04 season, his second in La Liga, Torres made further strides, scoring 19 league goals in 35 appearances,[3] meaning he finished as joint third highest scorer in the league.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). Aged just nineteen, he was also named Atlético's club captain.[2] Atlético narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Cup, but by finishing in 7th place in 2004 they qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Torres his first taste of European club competition. He scored two goals in the two round four matches against OFK Beograd, with one coming in each leg.[4] Atlético reached the final, but lost on penalties to Villarreal.[4] Premier League champions Chelsea were believed to be interested in Torres in 2005, but Atlético president Enrique Cerezo said that they had "no chance" of signing him.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club were willing to listen to offers for Torres, and Torres claimed Newcastle United had made a bid to sign him in March.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which Torres participated as a member of the Spanish national team, he admitted that he had turned down the chance to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005–06 season.[5] Following the 2006–07 season, in which he scored 14 La Liga goals,[3] Torres' future at Atlético was once again the subject of speculation after their inability to secure an automatic UEFA Cup spot. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all linked with a move for him,[6] with reports in the English media stating that Torres was the main transfer target of Liverpool.[7] 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."[8] However, a few days later, new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres; the fee rumoured was £25 million with Luis García moving in the opposite direction in a separate transfer deal.[9] Then on 30 June Atlético announced a deal with Villarreal to sign Diego Forlán, which was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure had become official.[10] On 2 July it was reported Torres had cut short a holiday to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move to Liverpool.[11] The following day, Torres passed a medical for Liverpool and it was announced that a farewell press conference would be held in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). The transfer fee is the highest paid in Liverpool's history,[10] and in March 2008, manager Rafael Benítez confirmed to The Times that Torres was acquired for around £20 million.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Liverpool

Torres playing for Liverpool against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008, during which he scored a hat-trick

Torres made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2–1 win on 11 August 2007.[12] He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League four days later in a 1–0 victory over Toulouse, after coming on as a 78th minute substitute.[13] His first Premier League goal came on his Anfield debut on 19 August, in the 16th minute in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea.[14] His first hat-trick came in a 4–2 victory over Reading in the League Cup in September, with all of his goals coming in the second half.[15] His first goals in the Champions League came on his third appearance in the competition as Liverpool beat F.C. Porto 4–1, during which he scored twice.[16]

He won the Premier League's player of the month award for February,[17] during which he scored four goals in two league appearances, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008.[18] This hat-trick and another in a 4–0 victory over West Ham United on 5 March 2008 meant he became the first Liverpool player since Jackie Balmer in November 1946 to score a hat-trick in successive home matches.[19] Later in March, after he scored a 47th minute header against Reading at Anfield, he became the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 season campaign to score 20 league goals in a season.[20]

In April, he scored another Champions League goal, this time against Arsenal in the quarter-final second leg, to help take Liverpool through to the semi-final.[21] This goal took him onto 29 goals for the season in all competitions, eclipsing former Liverpool favourite Michael Owen's personal record for goals in a season.[18][22] On 11 April, 2008, it was announced Torres had made a six man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award,[23] which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.[24] The Spanish international was also nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, which was won by Cesc Fàbregas of Arsenal and was named in the PFA Team of the Year.[24] In May, he finished second to Ronaldo for the FWA Footballer of the Year award.[25]

On 4 May 2008, Torres scored a 57th minute winner against Manchester City, which equalled the consecutive Anfield league goal record of eight games set by Roger Hunt.[26] After scoring his 24th league goal in the final game of the season, a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, he set a new record for the most prolific foreign goal scorer ever in a debut season in England, eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23 goals.[18][27] He ended the season in joint second with Emmanuel Adebayor in the race for the Premier League golden boot.[28] Torres was subject to media speculation that Chelsea were willing pay £50 million to sign him,[29] to which Torres responded to by saying it will be "many years" before he leaves Liverpool.[30] Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks later said he would not allow him to leave the club at any price.[31]

International career

In February 2001, Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain under-16 team.[32] The under-16s took part in the 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship in May, which they also won, with Torres scoring the only goal in the final, as well as finishing as the tournament's leading goalscorer and was also named the player of the tournament.[2][3] In November 2001, Torres represented Spain at the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championship, but the team failed to progress through the group stage.[3] In July 2002, he won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, finishing as top scorer and being named player of the tournament and was again the only goalscorer in the final.[2][3]

In 2003, Torres made his senior debut for the senior Spanish national team on 6 September, 2003 in a friendly against Portugal.[3] His first goal for Spain came against Italy on 28 April, 2004.[3] He was chosen as part of the Spanish squad for Euro 2004, but only managed to appear as a late substitute in Spain's first two group games, but made the first eleven for the deciding game against Portugal; Spain lost 1–0 and were eliminated.[3]

He scored seven goals in eleven appearances in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup,[33] making him Spain's top scorer for qualification.[3] 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.[34] In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia; firstly in the 76th minute to take Spain 2–1 into the lead and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th.[35] He finished the tournament as Spain's joint top scorer alongside fellow striker David Villa with three goals.[36] The Madrilenian was called up to Spain's UEFA Euro 2008 squad,[37] where he set up Villa to score Spain's first goal of the tournament in the opening game against Russia.[38] Torres came under criticism for apparently refusing to shake the hand of Spanish manager, Luis Aragonés, after being substituted.[39] He has since denied being angry with the coaching, citing that he was actually "angry with himself".[39] He scored the opening goal, his first goal of the tournament, in Spain's next game, a 2–1 win over Sweden.[40] Torres scored the winner and claimed the man of the match award in the final against Germany in a 1–0 victory.[41][42] He was later named in the "team of the tournament".[43]

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performance
Club Season Spain La Liga Copa del Rey - Europe Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Atlético Madrid
(Segunda División) 		2000–01 4 1 2 0 - - - - 6 1
2001–02 36 6 1 1 - - - - 37 7
Atlético Madrid
(Primera División) 		2002–03 29 13 2 1 - - - - 31 14
2003–04 35 19 5 2 - - - - 40 21
2004–05 38 16 6 2 - - 5 2 49 20
2005–06 36 13 4 0 - - - - 40 13
2006–07 36 14 4 1 - - - - 40 15
Atlético Madrid total 214 82 24 7 0 0 5 2 243 91
England Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Liverpool

(Premier League)

2007–08 33 24 1 0 1 3 11 6 46 33
Liverpool total 33 24 1 0 1 3 11 6 46 33
Career totals 247 106 25 7 1 3 16 8 289 124
Last updated 11 May, 2008.[44]

Career honours

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "biography". Fernando Torres. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "TORRES". footballdatabase.com. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  4. ^ a b "UEFA Intertoto Cup 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  5. ^ Adams, Tom (2007-02-06). "'Flattered' Villa to stay with Che". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2008-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Premiership - Summer transfer latest". eurosport.yahoo.com. June 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Torres is Reds' number one target". Liverpool Echo. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Atlético deny Torres rumours". Sky Sports. June 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Liverpool Seal Torres Deal". goal.com. June 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Liverpool complete Torres signing". BBC Sport. 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Torres' £27m Liverpool deal". Telegraph.co.uk. 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Sinnott, John (2007-08-11). "Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (2007-08-15). "Toulouse 0-1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (2007-08-19). "Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (2007-09-25). "Reading 2-4 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Sinnott, John (2007-11-28). "Liverpool 4-1 FC Porto". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b "Moyes & Torres win monthly awards". BBC Sport. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b c "Fernando Torres". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  19. ^ Barrett, Tony (2008-03-06). "Fernando Torres: My pride at Anfield hat-trick record". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ May, John (2008-03-15). "Liverpool 2-1 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (2008-04-08). "Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal (agg 5-3)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Goalscorers for the 2001-2002 season". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  23. ^ "Ronaldo tops PFA nominations list". BBC Sport. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ a b c "Ronaldo named player of the year". BBC Sport. 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Ronaldo wins writers' award again". BBC Sport. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Liverpool 1-0 Man City". ESPNsoccernet. 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Caroe, Charlie (2008-05-06). "Jose Reina: Fernando Torres will improve". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Premier League - Top Scorers - 2007/08". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  29. ^ Caroe, Charlie (2008-05-26). "Chelsea target Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres with £50 million bid". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "Torres pledges long-term future to Reds". ESPNsoccernet. 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Hicks laughs off Torres sale talk". BBC Sport. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-06-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "9. Fernando Torres". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  33. ^ "Fernando TORRES". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  34. ^ "Spain 4-0 Ukraine". BBC Sport. 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Spain - Tunisia". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  36. ^ "Top goals". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  37. ^ "Raul left out of Spain Euro squad". BBC Sport. 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Ronay, Barney (2008-06-10). "Quicksilver Villa lights up the Alps". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ a b "Torres denies dissing Aragones". FourFourTwo. 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Bevan, Chris (2008-06-14). "Sweden 1-2 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ a b McNulty, Phil (2008-06-29). "Germany 0-1 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Torres hailed as world's best". The Press Association. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ a b "Spain dominate Team of the Tournament". euro2008.uefa.com. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-07-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "matches". Fernando Torres. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  45. ^ a b c "honours". Fernando Torres. Retrieved 2008-06-09.


Sporting positions
Preceded by Captain of Atlético Madrid
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
Records
Most consecutive matches at Anfield scoring at least one goal
Shared with Roger Hunt (8 games)
Most goals scored in debut English Premier League season by a foreign player
(24 goals)


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