Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

crown and assumed the throne of Europe. Journalists from around the world recount his life and his performance as if talking about Orlando. Even his tattoos are talked about, such as the Number 9 in Gothic letters on his right arm, his name in the
tengwar
alphabet as created by J.R.R. Tolkien in the
Lord of the Rings
, and on one of his legs, in Roman numerals, the date 7 July 2001, which is said to be the date of his first kiss with Olalla. The ratings given to the Little Prince by journalists are exceptional.
The Times
, ungenerously, gives him an 8, saying: ‘Magnificent. Did it time and again with Liverpool last season and did it time and again last night. No one could stop him.’ And the picture on so many front pages is that of his arms outstretched like a red angel, Lehmann beaten and on the floor and the ball with its chequered panels rolling towards the net.
    The next day it’s back home for the parade with the cup through the streets of Madrid and a 24-hour party. At 19.55 on 1 July, the team plane lands at Madrid Barajas airport. The faces of the players betray fatigue – they haven’t slept much because of all the celebrations, first in Vienna and then in Neustift, where the squad trained. But no one wants to stop the fun at the moment. An open-top bus takes two hours to make its way to the Plaza de Colón, where, waiting for their heroes, are one million fans and a big stage, where Pepe Reina will be the master of ceremonies. Fernando Torres places himself at the front corner with the cup in his hands and his red shirt. From the crowd a boy calls out and hands him flags of Spain and Atlético Madrid. He holds them and waves them aloft.

Chapter 23
Ambitious
     
    Conversation with Liverpool and Spain goalkeeper, Pepe Reina
    ‘I gave my son two bits of advice: to be a good team-mate and, during the match, keep your eye solely on the ball. He’s a great goalkeeper and I don’t say that as a father but as someone who knows about these things,’ declared Miguel Reina during Euro 2008.
    And he is right to say that he knows about these things because Miguel, the father of José Manuel Reina Páez – better known as Pepe – was also a leading goalkeeper. He played 312 matches in the Primera Liga with Córdoba, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid – the club where he ended his career in 1980. He won one league title, two Spanish Cup trophies, one Copa de Ferias cup, an Intercontinental Cup and two Zamora Trophies for the best Spanish League goalkeeper. His worst moment was losing the 1974 European Cup final against Bayern Munich. His son, who he admits is ‘better than me’, went through the same bitter experience in Athens in 2006, losing the Champions League final against Milan but, two years later, got the satisfaction of winning the big continental title, Euro 2008, with Spain.
    And it is his son, who, as a child, wanted to be a winger but instead – thanks to his support – became the goalkeeper for Liverpool. Pepe arrived in the city of The Beatles in July 2005 and Rafa Benítez described him as the best Spanish goalkeeper. He came from Villarreal, where he was on loan from Barcelona, the club where he had worked his way up from the junior ranks to the senior squad. He won two Intertoto Cups and was renowned as a penalty-stopper.
    In his last season with Villarreal, he saved seven out of nine. Within a short time at Liverpool he managed to push out Jerzy Dudek, the hero of the winning side in the Champions League final in Istanbul, gradually gaining the confidence of manager, team-mates, fans, and increasing his reputation. For three years running (2006–08) he won the Golden Glove award for the highest number of clean sheets in the Premier League, only just missing out (by one) on a fourth consecutive title in 2009 to Manchester United’s Edwin Van Sar. The goalkeeping son of a goalkeeper has become more famous than his father because, explained Miguel, ‘He is a very safe, all-round keeper, who dominates his area and who is also very good with his feet.’ But Pepe is not only a great player, he is a charming character, the ideal dressing room companion who can give you a boost when things are going badly or when someone is feeling down. And that’s not all, the Number 25 of Liverpool (Number 23 in the national side) is also very funny and a bit of a performer. Few Spaniards have forgotten his display on the podium in Madrid’s Plaza de Colón, the day after the Euro 2008 victory. With