Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

approachable and like another team-mate. He’s brought in a much more relaxed atmosphere.’

What would give you the bigger thrill, winning the World cup or the Champions League?
     
    ‘I don’t think I could decide. A World Cup is something that’s in every footballer’s mind, even more so now that it seems achievable and it’s just round the corner, but winning the Champions with my team would be really great. Either way then.’

What’s the best league in the world, the English or the Spanish?
     
    ‘It’s hard to say. I think that, as things stand, the English league is the most competitive in the world because it’s got four great teams that can go all the way in Europe’s biggest tournament. In the Liga this year there’s been one team like Barcelona, which has been better than the English ones, but that’s been one team and the other three semi-finalists were English teams, and we also lost to an English team. I think the Premier is stronger at the moment. It’s a league where Spanish players can fit in, as can others from all over the world. Each one has its moments though, and there have been seasons where the Italian League has been the best and now it’s the English, but things can change.’

Who is the best player in the world for you?
     
    ‘For me it would obviously be Gerrard, because I see him every day, though I think Leo Messi deserves the honour more than anyone else. He’s been the best this year. He’s won everything.’

And it comes to the last question … Torres, can I have my picture taken with you?
     
    The request comes from Rubén Calvo, a ten-year-old lad with fair hair and big green eyes, clutching a Liverpool shirt. Fernando has no problem agreeing to this. He hasn’t forgotten the promise he made years back to Flori, his mother. That day, after watching the Spanish national side train in Boadilla del Monte, Torres went up to the internationals to get their autographs along with some other boys. No joy. He got into such a stew about it that he promised his mother that, if he should ever make it into their boots, he would never deny anyone a photo or an autograph. Now that he has arrived, El Niño does not forget, and
el niño
, with fair hair and big green eyes, smiles.

Career record
     

Personal summary
     
    Full name: Fernando José Torres Sanz
Place and Date of Birth: Madrid, 20 March 1984
Parents: Flori and José. Sister: Mari Paz. Brother: Israel
Married: 27 May 2009
Wife: Olalla Domínguez Liste
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Early career
     
    As a junior, played for Parque 84, Mario’s Holanda and Rayo 13
At eleven years old, scouted to Atlético de Madrid

Atlético de Madrid
     
    Debut: 27 May 2001 v Leganés (home) Second Division
First goal: 4 June 2001 v Albacete (away) Second Division

Appearances
     
    Liga 174 Goals 82
Copa del Rey 25 Goals 7
Became Atlético de Madrid captain in 2003 aged eighteen.

Liverpool
     
    Debut: 11 August 2007 v Aston Villa (away) Premier League
First goal: 18 August 2007 v Chelsea (home) Premier League

Appearances
     
    League: 57 Goals 38
F.A. Cup 4 Goals 1
League Cup 3 Goals 3
Europe 20 Goals 8

Spain
     
    Debut: 6 September 2003 v Portugal (away)
First goal: 28 April 2004 v Italy (away)
Caps 67 Goals 22

Tournaments played:
     
    European Championship 2004
World Cup 2006
European Championship 2008
Confederations Cup 2009

Honours won
     
    European Championship 2008
European Championship Under-19, 2002
European Championship Under-16, 2001

Individual Honours
     
    MVP for the Final of the 2008 European Championships
Premier League Silver Boot Winner (2007–2008)
MVP for the European Under-19s (2002) and Golden Ball winner
MVP for the Euro Under-16 (2001) and Golden Ball winner

Bibliography
     
Cruise, Ian,
Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s Glorious Number 9
, 2009 John Blake Publishing
Hughes, Simon,
Fernando Torres: a year in the life
,
2008
,
Trinity MirrorSport Media
Miguélez José and Matallanas Javier G.,
Sentimiento Atlético: cien años de sueños, alegrías y desencantos
, 2003 Plaza Y Janés
Manolete,
Soy del Atléti,¡y qué!
2008, Now Books

Newspapers
     

Spain
     
    EL País
    El Mundo
    ABC
    Público
    La Vanguardia
    El Periódico de Catalunya
    La Razón
    Marca
    As
    Mundo deportivo
    Sport

UK
     
    The Times
    Independent
    Guardian
    Sun
    Daily Mirror
    Daily Mail
    Liverpool Echo

Italy
     
    Corriere della Sera
    La Repubblica
    La Gazzetta dello Sport

France
     
    L’Équipe

Acknowledgements
     
    To Elvira, Olmo,