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| years = 2001&ndash;2007<br />2007&ndash;
| years = 2001&ndash;2007<br />2007&ndash;
| clubs = [[Atlético Madrid]]<br />[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| clubs = [[Atlético Madrid]]<br />[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| caps(goals) = 214 (82)<br />{{0}}31 (22) <!-- league games only please -->
| caps(goals) = 214 (82)<br />{{0}}31 (28) <!-- league games only please -->
| nationalyears = 2003&ndash;
| nationalyears = 2003&ndash;
| nationalteam = [[Spain national football team|Spain]]
| nationalteam = [[Spain national football team|Spain]]

Revision as of 21:00, 15 April 2008

Fernando Torres
File:Fernando torres.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 FC
Number 9
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 13, 2008 (UTC)

Fernando José Torres Sanz (born 20 March 1984) is a Spanish football player currently playing for Liverpool F.C.

In the five seasons preceding his move to Liverpool from Athletico Madrid, Torres was one of the leading goal scorers in La Liga. Prior to that, Torres also played two seasons in the Spanish second division.

Early career

He played for Rubbish Town roversFrom an early age, Torres developed a bond with Buttevant. 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, the young 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.Torres played alongside . 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 from 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] His nickname is 'El Niño', which translates to The Kid.[citation needed]

2001-02: Promotion to La Liga

He shouted, 'poo' at a fish. 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 Division.[citation needed] 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-20 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. Fernando Torres was the youngest player ever to captain Atlético Madrid to success, over the years before transferring to Liverpool FC.

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, 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 £25 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, paying around £26 million for Torres. [9][10]In March 2008, liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed in an exclusive interview with "The Times" which was later posted on the official LFC website, that Torres was infact aquired for around £20 million to finally end all the speculation and controversy over the price paid for him.[11]

Liverpool

2007-08: Debut Season

On August 11, "El Niño" made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2-1 win. He scored his first English Premier League goal on his Anfield debut on August 19, in the 16th minute in a controversial 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

On February 23, Torres scored his first league hat-trick, and second for the club, against Middlesbrough at Anfield in Liverpool's 3-2 win. On March 5, just eleven days later, he repeated the feat, netting three more against West Ham in a 4-0 Liverpool victory.[12] In doing so, he had the statisticians scouring the history books and he became the first player since Jackie Balmer in November 1946, and the fourth player in the club's history, to score hat-tricks in successive home matches.[13] His performances earned him Barclays Premier League Player of the Month honours for February.

On March 15, Torres became the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler to score 20 league goals in a season, when he scored a 47th minute header against Reading F.C. at Anfield.[14]. Torres continued his success by scoring the single Liverpool F.C. goal against Inter in San Siro.

On March 30, Torres participated in his first Merseyside derby against Everton FC. He scored the only goal and the eventual winner in the 7th minute. This took his Premier League tally to 21 and his overall season tally to 28 goal.

On April 8, Torres added to his UEFA Champions League tally scoring his 5th goal of the competition against Arsenal at Anfield where Liverpool won 4-2 on the night and booked their place in the 2007-08 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. This goal also 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.

On April 11, 2008, it was announced that Torres had made a six man shortlist for both the PFA Player of the Year Award, as well as the PFA Young Player of the Year Award.

On April 13, Torres scored his 30th goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers. He became the first Liverpool F.C. player to score in 7 consecutive games in the Premier League at Anfield, he managed 15 goals in this period.

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. 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. 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.

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

(Premier League)

2007-08 31 22 1 0 1 3 9 5 42 30
Liverpool Total 31 22 1 0 1 3 9 5 42 30
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 245 104 25 7 1 3 14 7 285 121
Last updated 11th April, 2008[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
    • 2008 February FA Player Of The Month Award

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. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/06/30/sfnliv130.xml
  10. ^ http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2118371,00.html?gusrc=gpd
  11. ^ http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2008/mar/31/N159367080331-1327.htm
  12. ^ Liverpool 4-0 West Ham Paul Fletcher, BBC Sport online 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-06
  13. ^ Fernando Torres: My pride at Anfield hat-trick record Liverpool Echo 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-03-06
  14. ^ Liverpool notched a fifth successive Premier League victory after coming from behind to beat Reading at Anfield BBC Sport 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-03-16


Sporting positions
Preceded by
?
 Atlético Madrid captain
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
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