Spanish association football player
For other people named Fernando Torres, see Fernando Torres (disambiguation)
Torres and the second or maternal family name 🔔 is Sanz. In this Spanish name , the first or paternal surname isand the second or maternal family name is
Fernando 🔔 José Torres Sanz (Spanish pronunciation: [feɾˈnando ˈtores]; born 20 March 1984) is a Spanish football manager and former player who 🔔 played as a striker. He is the current manager of Atlético Madrid Juvenil A. Due to his consistent goalscoring rate 🔔 as a young player, Torres came to be nicknamed El Niño ('The Kid'), which stuck with him throughout his career.[5] 🔔 In his prime, he was praised for his pace, accurate finishing, and proficiency in heading, and was named in the 🔔 FIFA World XI twice.
Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, progressing through their youth system to the first-team squad. He 🔔 made his first-team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club with 75 goals in 174 La Liga 🔔 appearances. Torres joined Premier League club Liverpool in 2007, after signing for a club record transfer fee. The most prolific 🔔 goalscoring spell of his career, he became the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 league goals and was 🔔 often regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.[6] In 2008, he finished third for both the Ballon 🔔 d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
Striving to compete for trophies, Torres left Liverpool in January 2011 to join 🔔 Chelsea for a British record transfer fee of £50 million, which made him the most expensive Spanish player in history. 🔔 At Chelsea, Torres won the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, though his goalscoring rate and performances 🔔 drastically declined. Torres joined Serie A club AC Milan on a two-year loan prior to the 2013–14 season, and signed 🔔 permanently in January 2024. In the same month, he agreed to rejoin Atlético Madrid on loan until the end of 🔔 the 2024–16 season, before signing permamently for the club in July 2024. Torres won the 2024-18 UEFA Europa League before 🔔 he signed for Japanese club Sagan Tosu in July 2024, retiring from football after the 2024-19 season.
Torres is a Spanish 🔔 international and made his debut against Portugal in 2003. He has been capped over 100 times and is his country's 🔔 third-highest goalscorer of all-time. With Spain, he has participated in six major tournaments: UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World 🔔 Cup, Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012, and the 2014 World Cup. Spain won the three tournaments from 🔔 2008 to 2012, with Torres scoring in the finals of both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He scored the winning 🔔 goal in the 2008 European Championship, and won the Golden Boot for highest goalscorer in 2012.
Early career
Born in Fuenlabrada, Community 🔔 of Madrid,[7] Torres became interested in football as a child and joined his first team, Parque 84, at age five.[8] 🔔 His grandfather was not a passionate football fan, but took pride in being an Atlético Madrid supporter, and Torres inherited 🔔 his love for the club.[8]
Torres began playing football as a goalkeeper, the position his brother played in.[9] At age seven, 🔔 however, he started playing regularly as a striker in an indoor league for the neighbourhood club, Mario's Holanda,[8] using the 🔔 characters from the anime Captain Tsubasa as inspiration.[10] Three years later, aged 10, he progressed to an 11-side team, Rayo 🔔 13.[11] He scored 55 goals in a season and was one of three Rayo 13 players to earn a trial 🔔 with Atlético.[11] He impressed the scouts and joined the club's youth system at age 11 in 1995.[11]
Club career
Atlético Madrid
Torres entering 🔔 the pitch on his debut for Atlético Madrid on 27 May 2001
After progressing through the ranks, Torres won his first 🔔 important youth title in 1998.[11] Atlético sent an under-15 team to compete in the Nike Cup, in Spain and Europe, 🔔 to play against youth teams from other clubs; Atlético won the tournament.[11][12] He was later voted the best player in 🔔 Europe for the age group.[12] In 1999, at the age of 15, Torres signed his first professional contract with Atlético.[11] 🔔 He spent his first year playing in the youth team and participated in the Honor Division when he was 16.[13] 🔔 The 2000–01 season had started poorly, as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone which kept him out of play until 🔔 December.[13] Torres trained with the first team to get prepared for pre-season, but eventually made his debut on 27 May 🔔 2001, at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, against Leganés.[13] One 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.[13]
Atlético were promoted to La Liga 🔔 at the end of the 2001–02 season, although Torres did not perform well in the season, as he netted only 🔔 6 times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División.[14] Torres' first season in La Liga, 2002–03, was better, however, as 🔔 he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances, with Atlético finishing in 11th place.[13][14] In July 2003, soon after his takeover 🔔 of the club, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had a £28 million bid for Torres rejected by Atlético's board of directors.[15] 🔔 In the 2003–04 season, his second in La Liga, Torres made further strides, scoring 19 league goals in 35 appearances,[14] 🔔 meaning he finished as the joint third-highest scorer in the league.[16] At age 19, Torres was named Atlético's captain.[12] Atlético 🔔 narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Cup, but by finishing in seventh place in the 2003–04 season, they 🔔 qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Torres a first taste of a competition at the European level.[17] He 🔔 scored two goals in the two fourth round matches against OFK Beograd, with one coming in each leg.[17] Atlético reached 🔔 the final, but lost 3–1 on a penalty shoot-out to Villarreal following a 2–2 draw on aggregate.[17] FA Premier League 🔔 champions Chelsea were believed to be interested in signing Torres during the summer of 2005, but Atlético club president Enrique 🔔 Cerezo said that they had "no chance" of signing him.[18] Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club was 🔔 willing to listen to offers for Torres, and Torres claimed Newcastle United of the FA Premier League had made a 🔔 bid to sign him in March.[19][20]
Torres playing for Atlético Madrid in 2006
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.[21] He scored 14 league 🔔 goals in the 2006–07 season.[14] The English media reported that he was the main transfer target of FA Premier League 🔔 club Liverpool,[22] but Cerezo stated, "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player."[23] Days later, however, 🔔 new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres; the fee was rumoured to be £25 million 🔔 with Luis García moving to Atlético in a separate transfer deal.[24] On 30 June, Atlético announced a deal to sign 🔔 Diego Forlán from Villarreal, in what was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure became official.[25] On 🔔 2 July, it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalise the 🔔 move to Liverpool.[26] The following day, Torres passed a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground.[27] 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.[27] The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool's history.[25] In March 2008, manager Rafael Benítez stated in an 🔔 interview with The Times that Torres was acquired for around £20 million, although this figure takes into account García's move 🔔 to Atlético.[28]
Liverpool
2007–08 season
Torres made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2–1 win on 11 August 2007.[29] 🔔 He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League four days past his first performance in a 1–0 victory 🔔 over Toulouse, after coming on as a 79th minute substitute.[30] His first Premier League goal came on his Anfield debut 🔔 on 19 August 2007, in the 16th minute in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea.[31] His first hat-trick came in a 🔔 4–2 victory over Reading in the League Cup on 25 September 2007, with all of his goals coming in the 🔔 second half.[32] His first goals in the Champions League came on his third appearance in the competition as Liverpool beat 🔔 Porto 4–1 on 28 November 2007, as he scored twice.[33]
Torres was named the Premier League Player of the Month for 🔔 February 2008,[34] during which he scored four goals in four appearances, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008.[35] 🔔 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 Jack Balmer in November 1946 to score a hat-trick in successive home matches.[36] 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 to score 20 league goals in a season.[37] In April, he scored another Champions League goal, this 🔔 time against Arsenal in the quarter-final second leg, as Liverpool advanced to the semi-final.[38] This goal took him onto 29 🔔 goals for the 2007–08 season in all competitions,[35] eclipsing Michael Owen's personal record for goals in a season.[39] On 11 🔔 April 2008, it was announced Torres had made a six-man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award,[40] 🔔 which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.[41] 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.[41] In May, he finished second to Ronaldo for the FWA Footballer of the Year award.[42]
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.[35][43] 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 in a debut season in 🔔 England, eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23 goals.[35][44] He ended the season in joint second place with Emmanuel Adebayor in the 🔔 race for the Premier League golden boot.[45] Torres was subject to media speculation that Chelsea were willing to pay £50 🔔 million to sign him, but Torres responded by saying it would be "many years" before he left Liverpool.[46][47] Liverpool co-owner 🔔 Tom Hicks also negated the idea of a transfer, saying he would not allow Torres to leave the club at 🔔 any price.[48]
2008–09 season
Torres playing for Liverpool in 2008
Torres made a scoring start to the 2008–09 Premier League season with a 🔔 25-yard shot into the bottom right-hand corner away at Sunderland, which was the only goal in a 1–0 win on 🔔 16 August 2008.[49] He suffered a hamstring tear in a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa, which would keep him out 🔔 for two to three weeks.[50] Torres made his return in a 2–1 victory against Marseille in the Champions League and 🔔 went on to score two goals in the Merseyside derby against Everton on 27 September 2008 to give Liverpool a 🔔 2–0 win.[51][52] He followed this up with another two goals the following weekend against Manchester City in a 3–2 win 🔔 away at the City of Manchester Stadium as Liverpool came back from a two-goal deficit.[53] The first of these was 🔔 the thousandth Liverpool goal to be scored in the Premier League.[54] Torres picked up a hamstring injury during a 2010 🔔 FIFA World Cup qualifier, meaning he was likely to miss three games for Liverpool.[55] On 22 October 2008, Liverpool played 🔔 Torres' former club Atlético in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, but his injury meant he missed out 🔔 on the game.[56] Atlético president Enrique Cerezo had given him a VIP invitation to watch the game, but he declined 🔔 this to continue his rehabilitation from injury in Merseyside.[57] He was named in the FIFPro World XI team for the 🔔 2007–08 season on 27 October 2008.[58]
Torres made his return for Liverpool on 8 November 2008 after coming on as a 🔔 72nd-minute substitute in a 3–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion.[59] He said he would be interested in returning to former 🔔 club Atlético eventually, saying, "I don't know if I will retire there, but I would like to go back and 🔔 finish some things that are left to do."[60] He was ruled out of action for two to three weeks following 🔔 Liverpool's 1–0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League in November, where he picked up a hamstring strain,[61] which was 🔔 later extended to at least four weeks by specialists.[62] He was named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player 🔔 of the Year award in December,[63] and eventually came in third place behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.[64] Torres returned to 🔔 action on 3 January 2009 as a substitute with a goal in the 2–0 win over Preston North End, his 🔔 first in the FA Cup.[65] He scored two late goals for Liverpool to secure a 2–0 victory over Chelsea on 🔔 1 February 2009.[66] Despite having spent a year and a half at the club, Torres was chosen as number 50 🔔 in The Times's list of "The 50 greatest Liverpool players", reinforcing the impact he had made at Liverpool in such 🔔 a short period of time.[67]
Torres faced his old rivals Real Madrid on 10 March 2009 in the Champions League last 🔔 16 and due to an ankle injury, he had a painkilling injection before the game to enable him to play.[68] 🔔 He scored the first goal of the game, which ended as a 4–0 victory, meaning Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals 🔔 5–0 on aggregate.[69] Four days later, he lined up against Manchester United at Old Trafford and he scored the equaliser 🔔 in a game that finished as a 4–1 victory.[70] His goal celebration at Old Trafford endeared him to Liverpool fans 🔔 when he held out his hand to United fans – making the "five times" gesture – signifying Liverpool's five Champions 🔔 League titles (to United's three).[71] He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second season running 🔔 in April 2009.[72] Torres scored his 50th goal for Liverpool on 24 May 2009 against Tottenham on the final day 🔔 of the 2008–09 season, his 84th appearance.[73]
2009–10 season
Torres (third from right) lining up before a Liverpool match in 2010
Following the 🔔 end of the season, Torres agreed a new contract with Liverpool,[74] which he signed on 14 August.[75] By signing, Torres 🔔 had the option of a one-year extension after the contract's expiration in 2013.[76] Torres scored two goals in a 3–2 🔔 win over West Ham United on 19 September 2009, a result that took Liverpool to third in the Premier League.[77] 🔔 One week later, he scored his first hat-trick of the 2009–10 Premier League season in a 6–1 victory over Hull 🔔 City at Anfield.[78] He was named Premier League Player of the Month for September, after scoring five goals during the 🔔 month and becoming the Premier League's top goalscorer.[79] On 25 October 2009, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 🔔 victory for Liverpool over Manchester United,[80] after which Rafael Benítez praised Torres' performance, saying, "We were waiting for that final 🔔 pass. When it came we knew he would score."[81] Torres was named in the FIFPro World XI for the second 🔔 successive season in December 2009.[82] His stoppage-time winning goal against Aston Villa on 29 December 2009 made him the fastest 🔔 Liverpool player ever to score 50 league goals.[83] He was substituted on 65 minutes in a 1–1 draw with Birmingham 🔔 City on 4 April 2010, which Benítez justified by saying Torres was "exhausted".[84] Torres made his last appearance of the 🔔 season scoring twice in a 4–1 victory over Benfica in the Europa League on 8 April 2010,[85] and it was 🔔 announced on 18 April that he would miss the rest of the season to undergo knee surgery.[86] This meant that 🔔 Torres finished the season with 22 goals in 32 games in all competitions, finishing as Liverpool's top scorer for the 🔔 second time.[85]
2010–11 season
Torres playing for Liverpool in 2010
Following Roy Hodgson's appointment as Liverpool manager, Hodgson stated that Torres would not 🔔 be sold by the club, saying, "He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him. We 🔔 want to keep him."[87] Hodgson dismissed reports Torres was set to leave Liverpool by saying, "He has told us that 🔔 he is looking forward to Monday, to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. 🔔 That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."[88] Torres stated his commitment to Liverpool on 🔔 3 August: "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on 🔔 my first day when I signed."[89]
Torres made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season in the opening match, a 1–1 🔔 draw with Arsenal on 14 August 2010, entering the game as a substitute in the 74th minute.[90] He scored his 🔔 first goal of the season with the winner in a 1–0 victory over West Brom on 29 August 2010,[91] his 🔔 50th goal at Anfield in all competitions.[92] Torres scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory at home to Blackburn 🔔 Rovers on 24 October 2010, his first goal since August.[93] He scored his final goals for Liverpool in a 3–0 🔔 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 January 2011.[94]
Chelsea
On 27 January 2011, Torres was the subject of a £40 million 🔔 bid from Chelsea, which was rejected by Liverpool.[95] He subsequently handed in an official transfer request to Liverpool the next 🔔 day, which was rejected.[96] Torres completed his move to Chelsea on a five-and-a-half-year contract on 31 January 2011 for an 🔔 undisclosed fee reported to be £50 million, which set a new record for a British transfer and made him the 🔔 sixth most expensive footballer in history.[97] He made his Chelsea debut on 6 February 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat 🔔 to former club Liverpool.[98] On 23 April 2011, Torres scored his first goal for Chelsea against West Ham United in 🔔 a 3–0 victory, which ended a run of 903 minutes of football without a goal.[99] This was his only goal 🔔 for Chelsea in the 2010–11 season, having made 18 appearances for his new club.[100]
2011–12 season
Torres playing for Chelsea in 2011
Torres 🔔 got the 2011–12 season underway in Chelsea's 0–0 draw away against Stoke City on 14 August 2011, in which his 🔔 "link-up play was sharp, plus he was willing to make intelligent runs into space to receive the ball".[101] He scored 🔔 his second goal at Chelsea, and his first of the season, on 18 September 2011, during an away game against 🔔 Manchester United, the side's only goal in a 3–1 defeat.[102] He scored his second goal of the season at home 🔔 to Swansea City in a 4–1 victory.[103] Ten minutes after his goal, however, a two-footed challenge on Mark Gower resulted 🔔 in his first red card in English football and a three-match domestic suspension.[104][105] On 19 October 2011, Torres scored two 🔔 goals in a 5–0 victory against Genk in the Champions League, his first in Europe since the quarter-final of the 🔔 2008–09 Champions League with his old club Liverpool, against Chelsea.[106] His next Chelsea goals came after scoring twice and also 🔔 assisting two others against Championship team Leicester City in an FA Cup quarter-final on 18 March 2012, ending a goal 🔔 drought that stretched 24 games.[107] On 31 March 2012, Torres scored his first Premier League goal since 24 September 2011, 🔔 against Aston Villa in a 4–2 away win.[108]
Torres came on as a substitute for Didier Drogba on 24 April 2012 🔔 to score a last-minute goal against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, which gave Chelsea a 2–2 draw, and cemented 🔔 Barcelona's elimination from the tournament. Chelsea were already winning on the away goals rule, but finally won on aggregate score 🔔 (3–2).[109] He scored the first hat-trick of his Chelsea career in a 6–1 win against Queens Park Rangers at Stamford 🔔 Bridge on 29 April 2012.[110] Torres came on in the second half of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final on 🔔 19 May 2012, directly after Bayern Munich's opening goal, and following a 1–1 draw after extra time Chelsea won the 🔔 penalty shoot-out 4–3.[111] His first full season at Chelsea finished with 11 goals in 49 appearances.[108]
2012–13 season
Torres started the 2012–13 🔔 season in the 2012 FA Community Shield against Manchester City at Villa Park, where he scored the opening goal, as 🔔 Chelsea lost 3–2.[112] On 19 August 2012, he appeared in Chelsea's first league match in a 2–0 away win against 🔔 Wigan Athletic.[113] Torres scored his first goal of the season in Chelsea's next match on 22 August 2012, a 4–2 🔔 home win against Reading, scoring the third goal to give his side the lead.[114] He also scored against Newcastle United, 🔔 Arsenal and Norwich City as Chelsea topped the table in the early weeks of the season.[115][116]
Torres was sent off for 🔔 receiving two yellow cards against Manchester United on 28 October 2012, the second for diving, leaving Chelsea with nine men 🔔 after teammate Branislav Ivanović was also sent off; the team went on to lose 3–2.[117] Torres scored his first goal 🔔 in the Champions League for the season after deflecting Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov's clearance into goal, as Chelsea needed 🔔 a 94th-minute winner from Victor Moses to secure a 3–2 victory on 7 November 2012.[118] On 21 November 2012, Roberto 🔔 Di Matteo was replaced as Chelsea manager by Rafael Benítez, who had previously coached Torres at Liverpool.[119] It was reported 🔔 that one reason for Benítez's appointment was to help Torres return to his best form.[120]
Torres ended a goal drought that 🔔 stretched over 11 hours of game time with two goals in Chelsea's 6–1 defeat of Nordsjælland in the Champions League 🔔 on 5 December 2012.[121] Three days later, he scored another two goals, ending a run of eight Premier League games 🔔 without a goal, as Chelsea defeated Sunderland 3–1.[122] He then scored in Chelsea's 2012 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final 3–1 🔔 win against Monterrey of the Mexican Liga MX on 13 December 2012, before playing in the 1–0 defeat to Brazilian 🔔 Série A side Corinthians in the final three days later.[115]
On 14 March 2013, Torres scored the third goal as Chelsea 🔔 defeated Steaua București 3–1 to advance 3–2 on aggregate to the quarter-final of the Europa League.[115] With this goal, Torres 🔔 became the first player to score in seven different competitions in one season.[123] He scored twice against Rubin Kazan in 🔔 the 3–1 win in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final on 4 April 2013, before scoring again in 🔔 the second leg 3–2 defeat, with Chelsea progressing to the semi-final 5–4 on aggregate.[115] Torres scored the opening goal in 🔔 Chelsea's 2–1 triumph over Benfica in the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final on 15 May 2013.[115] During the final match 🔔 of the season, a 2–1 home win over Everton, he scored his first league goal of 2013, and finished the 🔔 season with 22 goals in 64 matches.[115][124]
2013–14 season
Torres warming up during a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain in April 🔔 2014
Torres was selected to start by Chelsea's new manager José Mourinho against Hull City on the opening day of the 🔔 2013–14 season, where he won a fifth-minute penalty kick.[125] He scored his first goal of the season in the 2013 🔔 UEFA Super Cup against Bayern Munich.[126] On 28 September 2013, he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in 🔔 Chelsea's 1–1 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.[127]
Torres made his 100th start for Chelsea against Schalke 🔔 04 in a Champions League match on 22 October 2013 and marked the occasion by scoring two goals in a 🔔 3–0 win.[128][129] His first Premier League goal of the season came on 27 October as he scored the winning goal 🔔 in the 90th minute over title challengers Manchester City, while also providing the assist for André Schürrle's opener.[130]
AC Milan
Torres joined 🔔 Italian Serie A club AC Milan on a two-year loan on 31 August 2014.[131] He debuted on 20 September 2014, 🔔 replacing Andrea Poli for the last 14 minutes of a 1–0 home defeat against Juventus[132] and scored his first Milan 🔔 goal with a looping header in their 2–2 draw with Empoli two days later.[133]
Return to Atlético Madrid
Torres warming up for 🔔 Atlético Madrid in 2024
On 27 December 2014, it was announced that Torres' move to Milan would be made permanent on 🔔 5 January 2024,[134] but two days later, he agreed to rejoin La Liga club Atlético Madrid on loan until the 🔔 end of the 2024–16 season.[135] The loan was agreed after Alessio Cerci went the opposite way from Atlético to Milan 🔔 on the same day, 5 January.[136] Torres' unveiling at the Vicente Calderón Stadium on 4 January 2024 drew a crowd 🔔 of 45,000 persons.[137] He played the first match of his second spell on 7 January 2024, starting in the first 🔔 leg of a Copa del Rey last 16 tie against Real Madrid. He had no shots on target and was 🔔 replaced by Koke after 59 minutes, but Atlético won 2–0.[138] Eight days later in the second leg, he scored two 🔔 goals – in the first minute of each half – as Atlético advanced, his first goals in an away Madrid 🔔 derby.[139] Torres scored in the first minute again in the quarter-finals, albeit in a 2–3 home defeat against Barcelona.[140]
Torres playing 🔔 for Atlético Madrid in 2024
On 17 March, Torres scored the winning kick in Atlético's 3–2 penalty shoot-out defeat of Bayer 🔔 Leverkusen in the second leg of the teams' Champions League round of 16 tie.[141] On 21 March, he scored his 🔔 first La Liga goal since his return in the third minute of a 2–0 win against Getafe.[142]
On 6 February 2024, 🔔 Torres scored his 100th goal with Atlético Madrid in a 3–1 home league victory against Eibar on his 295th appearance 🔔 for the club.[143] The following month, he marked the occasion of his 300th appearance for Atlético by scoring in a 🔔 3–1 victory over Valencia.[144]
On 5 April 2024, Torres scored the opening goal of Atlético's UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona 🔔 at Camp Nou, before being sent off ten minutes later in an eventual 2–1 loss.[145]
On 5 July 2024, Torres signed 🔔 for Atlético permanently on a one-year contract.[146] In February 2024, he scored his 100th league goal in Spanish football when 🔔 he netted a brace against Leganés.[147] On 4 July 2024, Torres signed a new one-year contract with the rojiblancos to 🔔 stay with his boyhood club for one more year after they were banned from signing new players.[148]
Torres came on as 🔔 a 90th-minute substitute on 16 May 2024 as Atlético beat Marseille 3–0 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the 2024 UEFA 🔔 Europa League Final.[149] He scored two goals in his last match with Atlético in a 2–2 draw versus Eibar in 🔔 the final week of championship.[150]
Sagan Tosu and retirement
Torres signed for J1 League club Sagan Tosu on 10 July 2024.[151] He 🔔 scored his first goal for the club on 22 August in the Emperor's Cup, netting in a fourth round victory 🔔 over Vissel Kobe.[152][153] His first league goal followed five days later when he scored once and assisted a further two 🔔 in a 3–0 win over Gamba Osaka.[154] On 21 June 2024, Torres announced that he would retire from football.[155] He 🔔 made his farewell in a J1 League match against Vissel Kobe on 23 August 2024, when he faced former Spain 🔔 teammates Andrés Iniesta and David Villa.[156] The game ended in a 6–1 defeat for Sagan Tosu.[157]
International career
2001–02: Success at youth 🔔 level
In February 2001, Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain national under-16 team.[158] The under-16s took part in the 🔔 2001 UEFA European Under-16 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 scorer, and was also named the player of the tournament.[12][14] In September 🔔 2001, Torres represented the under-17 team at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship, but the team failed to progress through 🔔 the group stage.[14] In July 2002, he won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the under-19 team and was 🔔 again the only goalscorer in the final.[12] Also, he finished as top scorer and was named player of the tournament.[14]
2003–06: 🔔 Senior debut and early years
"We complement each other very well. We get on well on the pitch and very well 🔔 off it too. We're a good partnership. We both chase down defenders, put pressure on and fight to create chances 🔔 for each other". David Villa, speaking about Torres[159]
Torres made his debut for the senior team on 6 September 2003 in 🔔 a friendly against Portugal.[14] His first goal for Spain came against Italy on 28 April 2004.[14] He was selected for 🔔 the Spanish squad for UEFA Euro 2004.[14] After appearing as a late substitute in Spain's first two group games, he 🔔 started for the deciding game against Portugal.[14] Spain were losing 1–0 and, towards the end of the game, he hit 🔔 the post.[14]
Torres scored 7 goals in 11 appearances in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup,[160] making him Spain's top 🔔 scorer for qualification, including a vital two goals against Belgium and his first international hat-trick against San Marino.[14] At his 🔔 first ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup finals at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Torres scored the final 🔔 goal in a 4–0 victory over Ukraine with a volley.[161] In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia, 🔔 first in the 76th minute to take Spain 2–1 into the lead, and then again from a penalty kick in 🔔 the 90th.[162] With three goals, he finished the tournament as Spain's top scorer alongside fellow striker David Villa.[163]
2007–08: European Champions
Torres 🔔 was called up for Spain's Euro 2008 squad,[164] where he set up Villa to score Spain's first goal of the 🔔 tournament in the first game in the group stage against Russia.[165] Torres came under criticism for apparently refusing to shake 🔔 the hand of Spanish manager Luis Aragonés after being substituted off.[166] He subsequently denied being angry with the coaching, saying 🔔 that he was actually "irritated with himself".[166] He scored his first goal of the tournament in Spain's next game, a 🔔 2–1 win over Sweden.[167] Torres scored the winner and was named the man of the match in the final against 🔔 Germany in a 1–0 victory.[168][169] He said, "It's just a dream come true. This is my first title and I 🔔 hope it's the first of many. Victory in a Euro, it is almost as big as a World Cup. We 🔔 are used to watching finals on television, but today we were here and we won. My job is to score 🔔 goals. I want to win more titles and be the most important player in Europe and the world."[170] He was 🔔 later named as a striker along with his striking partner David Villa in the Team of the Tournament.[171]
2009–10: World Cup 🔔 champions
Torres celebrates with Spain at Plaza de España on 12 July 2010 after winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Torres made 🔔 his 60th appearance for Spain in a 2010 World Cup qualification victory over Turkey on 28 March 2009, becoming the 🔔 youngest player to reach this milestone.[172]
Torres was named in Spain's team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June.[173] He 🔔 scored his second hat-trick for Spain after 17 minutes into a Confederations Cup match against New Zealand on 14 June,[174] 🔔 thus recording the fastest hat-trick by a player for Spain.[175] He played for Spain as they were defeated 2–0 by 🔔 the United States in the semi-final,[176] as well as the third-place play-off, which Spain won 3–2 against South Africa after 🔔 extra time.[177]
Having undergone knee surgery on 18 April 2010, and missing the end of the Premier League season, Torres' rehabilitation 🔔 and fitness was closely monitored by Spain manager Vicente del Bosque.[86] Although still out injured, Torres was selected for Spain's 🔔 2010 FIFA World Cup squad in May.[178] On 8 June, Torres made his first appearance on the field in exactly 🔔 two months, coming on as a substitute on 66 minutes against Poland in a pre-World Cup friendly.[179]
Torres came on as 🔔 a substitute on 61 minutes in Spain's opening World Cup match on 16 June, a 1–0 defeat to Switzerland.[180] He 🔔 started the next two matches against Honduras and Chile and although his performances in the group stage were described as 🔔 below-par, he received backing from Del Bosque.[181] Torres came on as a substitute on 105 minutes in the final as 🔔 Spain won the World Cup for the first time following a 1–0 victory over the Netherlands on 11 July 2010.[182]
2011–12: 🔔 Euro 2012 glory
Torres was selected in Del Bosque's Euro 2012 squad.[183] In his first start of the tournament, he netted 🔔 two goals as Spain defeated the Republic of Ireland 4–0 to eliminate them from the tournament.[184] In the tournament final, 🔔 Torres came on as a substitute against Italy, scoring one goal and assisting another, as Spain won a second consecutive 🔔 European Championship with a 4–0 victory.[185] This secured him the Golden Boot for the tournament with three goals and one 🔔 assist, having played fewer minutes than Mario Gómez, who also had three goals and one assist.[186]
Torres won his 100th cap 🔔 against Saudi Arabia on 7 September 2012, making him the sixth-highest capped player for Spain, and started the game as 🔔 captain in goalkeeper Iker Casillas' absence.[187]
2013–14: Confederations Cup top scorer and final World Cup
He became the first player in history 🔔 to score four goals in one game in a FIFA Confederations Cup match during a 10–0 win over Tahiti on 🔔 20 June 2013 in the 2013 Confederations Cup.[188] Torres also became the first player to score two hat-tricks in the 🔔 Confederations Cup,[189] and with five goals and one assist won the tournament's Golden Shoe, ahead of Fred having played fewer 🔔 minutes.[190]
In his first international for 11 months, Torres scored a penalty in a World Cup warm-up match against Bolivia on 🔔 30 May 2014.[191] The day after, he was named in Spain's final squad for the tournament, ahead of Álvaro Negredo 🔔 and Fernando Llorente.[192] After substitute appearances in the team's opening two matches, Torres was named in the starting line-up for 🔔 the third group match with the team's elimination already confirmed.[193][194][195] He scored Spain's second goal in a 3–0 defeat of 🔔 Australia in Curitiba.[195]
Style of play
Torres was described as having "an eye for the spectacular" and being "capable of world-class skill", 🔔 as well as being regarded as a "technically proficient, highly successful striker".[196] He had the ability to find himself in 🔔 goalscoring positions, using his pace and vision to get in behind defenders.[197] A hard-working striker, he was also known for 🔔 his willingness to chase down and put pressure on opposing defenders, and was capable of playing off his teammates and 🔔 creating chances for other strikers, in addition to scoring goals himself; this also saw him being deployed in a deeper 🔔 role as a second striker on occasion.[159][198][199][200][201]
Due to his consistent goalscoring rate as a young player, Torres came to be 🔔 nicknamed El Niño ('The Kid').[5] Being strong in the air, and an accurate finisher with his head as well as 🔔 both feet, in his prime during 2007—2010, his prolific goalscoring earned him a reputation as one of the top strikers 🔔 in the world, or simply the best striker in the world.[202][203][204][6] Prior to the 2009 Confederations Cup, the CBC described 🔔 him as: "The golden boy of Spanish soccer and one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. Nicknamed El 🔔 Niño (The Kid), Torres is coming off a solid second season for Liverpool in which he scored 14 goals. Torres 🔔 is lightning quick, a deadly finisher and a player of such high class with the ball at his feet that 🔔 he routinely makes the spectacular look ordinary."[205] However, several injuries led to a loss of form, pace, confidence and a 🔔 decreased goalscoring rate in later seasons.[206][207][208]
Coaching career
On 25 July 2024, Atlético Madrid appointed Torres as head coach of the Juvenil 🔔 A (U19) team.[209]
Personal life
Torres' Tolkien tattoo can be seen on his left forearm
Torres' parents are José Torres and Flori Sanz. 🔔 He has two older siblings: Israel (born 1977) and María Paz (born 1976). He married Olalla Domínguez Liste on 27 🔔 May 2009 in a private ceremony with just two witnesses at the local town hall in El Escorial, Madrid.[210] The 🔔 couple have two children, a daughter, Nora, born on 8 July 2009 at the Hospital La Rosaleda, in Santiago de 🔔 Compostela, Galicia,[211] and a son, Leo, born on 6 December 2010 at Liverpool Women's Hospital, with Torres missing the fixture 🔔 against Aston Villa at Anfield.[212]
In 2009, it was reported that Torres had amassed a personal fortune of £14 million.[213] He 🔔 features in the video for "Ya nada volverá a ser como antes" by Spanish pop rock group El Canto del 🔔 Loco, whose singer, Dani Martín, shares a strong friendship with the footballer.[214] He makes a cameo appearance in the 2005 🔔 comedy film Torrente 3: El protector.[215] In 2009, he released an autobiography entitled Torres: El Niño: My Story.[216] Torres is 🔔 a keen admirer of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and has a tattoo reading "Fernando" in Tengwar on 🔔 his left forearm.[217]
In 2011, a stadium in Fuenlabrada was built in his honor.[218]
Career statistics
Club
International
Appearances and goals by national team and 🔔 year[232] National team Year Apps Goals Spain 2003 3 0 2004 11 1 2005 12 8 2006 13 5 2007 🔔 6 1 2008 13 3 2009 13 5 2010 11 3 2011 9 1 2012 10 4 2013 5 5 🔔 2014 4 2 Total 110 38
Honours
Atlético Madrid
Chelsea
Spain U16
Spain U19
Spain
Individual
Torres with Spain, holding the Golden Shoe at the 2013 FIFA Confederations 🔔 Cup
Decorations
See also
References
Sources
