Preview: In the concluding series of footballers who might be making their mark at Euro 2008, this time the spotlight is on a Spanish footballer who has make quite an impact in just his debut season in the Premier League in England. In fact, if the Liverpool faithful have their way, they want to say that they have found the next Ian Rush (who was once a former Liverpool great himself) already. In the unofficial weekend football focus series's Euro 2008 special.
I may be a Manchester United supporter myself but, the arrival of Fernando Torres from Atlético Madrid to Liverpool had not only justified why he is the club's star signing, and why he has managed to settle down well at Anfield. Considering before his eventual move to Liverpool, other Premier League clubs have also expressed their interest in signing him. But then I guess it's because given Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is also from Spain himself and the fact that he also speaks the same language as Torres, make it easier.
I mean, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United (manager Sir Alex Ferguson had even once revealed of his intention of signing Torres over, but this was way after Liverpool got the Spaniard) were also among the leading candidates as well. But before getting to why the Spanish international who is also nicknamed as 'El Nino' ('The Kid' in Spanish) attracted a lot of attention, it's time for a little introduction before he managed to get to England.
According to Wikipedia, Fernando Torres's grandfather prided himself in being a supporter of Atlético Madrid, despite he was not passionate about football. And that soon rubbed onto the Fernando in supporting Real Madrid's cross-town rivals just like his grandfather at a very young age. When he was seven, he started to play in an indoor league as a striker and three years later, progressed to playing for an 11-side team Rayo 13. He had an impressive season with his new club and scoring 55 goals. It was then he was among the three from Rayo 13 who earned a trial with Atlético Madrid. He impressed the scouts and just aged 11, joined the club.
In 1998, Atlético had sent an under-15 team to compete in Nike Cup Europe, which also include youth teams from prominent European clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United and Fenerbache. Torres took part in the youth tournament and his club won (and was even voted the best player in Europe for that age group). The following year in 1999, he signed his first contract with Atlético (he was only 15 then) and thus fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the club he support. It was actually only in 2000 where he really made his mark.
His debut in the 200/01 season started badly (suffering from a broken leg that kept him out of action till December) but that was just temporary. In early 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 first team debut was on May 27 2001, against Leganés. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club, in a game against Albacete. And it was then the nickname ('El Nino') came about.
The 2001/02 season was when Atlético won promotion to the Spanish top flight, the 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 (which also the second division in Spanish football). In 2002, Atlético Madrid returned to the La Liga. And 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. Also during that time, making his debut for the Spanish under-20 team. But it was the 2003/04 season where it marked a milestone where he was just 19 years of age, being made the captain of the club. Also at the same time in the La Liga standings, Atlético improved their standings and finishing seventh but narrowing missing out on a UEFA Cup spot 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. The club make it to the final, only to lose to fellow Spanish side Villarreal on penalties.
After the 2006 World Cup (which Torres was part of the Spanish national team), he admitted he turned down the chance of joining Chelsea at the end of the 2005/06 season. In the following season, his future at Atlético was once again a subject of speculation given the club's inability to secure an automatic UEFA Cup spot. That was when the so-called 'Big Four' in the Premier League (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United) were all linked with a move for him, with reports in the English media especially saying that Torres is a main transfer target for Liverpool. At first it has reached to such a level that initially Atlético president Enrique Cerezo made a statement saying, "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player." A few days later, reports suggested the club has agreed a deal with Liverpool (with the fee rumoured was £25 million with Luis Garcia moving in the opposite direction in a separate transfer deal).
It was in July 2 (this is in 2007) where it was reported Torres has to cut short his holiday to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move to Liverpool. 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 (if the reports I had read back then are to be believed, the fans did cried when Torres bid farewell, thus confirming his status at his boyhood club). Later that day, Atlético officially confirmed his transfer to Liverpool on their website, receiving around £20 million for Torres. It was only in March 2007 when Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confirmed that Torres was acquired for around £20 million. And I remembered during those times (before the 2007/08 season), there were debate whether Torres will be just like his compatriot Fernando Morientes (who arrived in England with a major reputation but comes up short).
The fears were soon put to rest. Even I myself, being a supporter of arguably Liverpool's most fiercest rival in England (Manchester United), was amazed. That is just how good 'El Nino' is, considering how football is being played in England, being fast and all (in short, being very different from the Spanish way). If I have to compile a list of Premier League players whom I like but not playing at United, Torres will be a shoo-in. In fact, he scored his 24th league goal in the final game of the season, a 2-0 win against Tottenham and this tally set a new bench mark for the most prolific foreign goal scorer ever in a debut season in England, eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23 goals. Remarkably, all Torres's goals came without him taking any spot kick.
Anyhow, he has been part of Spain coach Luis Aragones's preliminary 29-man Spain squad for the upcoming Euro 2008. But before I end the entry, there was actually one interesting incident back when Torres was still at Atletico (I had heard about it before as well). This was when the club was up against Real Sociedad. His captain's armband became loose and soon a photograph of that was widely distributed through magazines and the Internet displaying what many had thought to be "You'll Never Walk Alone" (which also happens to be the title of Liverpool's famous anthem). Fernando Torres rejected the rumours that he was going to sign for Liverpool then and the armband which actually read "We'll Never Walk Alone" was between him and his friends.
Spain has always been called the perennial underachievers in major tournaments. Showing much talent and promise on the national team, but yet somehow, not able to deliver at the big stage. Up till now, Spain has only won once in the European Championships (and still the only major football honour the country has) and that was way, way back in the 1960s. To be honest, my sentimental pick actually goes to Spain in terms on which side to win Euro 2008 next month. Really, it has been long overdue for Spain. And if they managed to break the hoodoo, then it will likely to have a lot to do with Fernando Torres himself.
