Fernando José Torres

{{Infobox Football biography 2

Torres played for the Spain national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Fernando José Torres stated after the World Cup that Fernando José Torres had turned down an offer to join Chelsea F.C. at the end of the La Liga 2005–06 season. Torres scored 14 league goals in the La Liga 2006–07 season,, but Cerezo stated, "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player". However, a few days later, new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres. The fee was rumored to be £25 million with Luis Javier García Sanz moving to Atletico in a separate transfer deal. On 30 June, Atlético announced a deal to sign Diego Forlán from Villarreal, in what was seen as a move to replace Torres before Fernando José Torres departure became official. On 2 July, it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalize the move to Liverpool. The following day, Torres passed a medical for Liverpool. Fernando José Torres held a press conference in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans, before completing Fernando José Torres move to Liverpool on a six-year contract. The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool's history.

Liverpool

Torres made Fernando José Torres competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa F.C. in a 2–1 win on 11 August 2007. Fernando José Torres made Fernando José Torres first appearance in the UEFA Champions League four days later in a 1–0 victory over Toulouse FC, after coming on as a 79th minute substitute. Fernando José Torres first Premier League goal came on Fernando José Torres Anfield debut on 19 August, in the 16th minute in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea F.C.. Fernando José Torres first hat-trick came in a 4–2 victory over Reading F.C. in the Football League Cup in September, with all of Fernando José Torres goals coming in the second half. Fernando José Torres first goals in the Champions League came on Fernando José Torres third appearance in the competition as Liverpool beat F.C. Porto 4–1, as Fernando José Torres scored twice.

Fernando José Torres was named the Premier League's player of the month for February, during which Fernando José Torres scored four goals in two league appearances, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough F.C. on 23 February 2008. This hat-trick and another in a 4–0 victory over West Ham United F.C. on 5 March 2008 meant Fernando José Torres became the first Liverpool player since Jack Balmer in November 1946 to score a hat-trick in successive home matches. Later in March, after Fernando José Torres scored a 47th minute header against Reading F.C. at Anfield, becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 in English football season campaign to score 20 league goals in a season. In April, Fernando José Torres scored another Champions League goal, this time against Arsenal F.C. in the quarter-final second leg, as Liverpool advanced to the semi-final. This goal took Fernando José Torres onto 29 goals for the 2007–08 in English football season in all competitions, eclipsing Liverpool F.C. favourite Michael Owen personal record for goals in a season. On 11 April 2008, it was announced Torres had made a six man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United F.C.. 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.
On 4 May 2008, Torres scored a 57th minute winner against Manchester City F.C., which equalled the consecutive Anfield league goal record of eight games set by Roger Hunt. After scoring Fernando José Torres 24th league goal in the final game of the season, a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Fernando José Torres set a new record for the most prolific foreign goal scorer ever in a debut season in England, eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23 goals. Fernando José Torres ended the season in joint second place with Emmanuel Adebayor in the race for the Premier League golden boot. Torres was subject to media speculation that Chelsea were willing pay £50 million to sign Fernando José Torres but Torres responded by saying it would be "many years" before Fernando José Torres left Liverpool. Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks also negated the idea of a transfer, saying Fernando José Torres would not allow Torres to leave the club at any price.

Torres made a promising start to the Premier League 2008–09 season, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 away win against Sunderland A.F.C.. Fernando José Torres suffered what was later confirmed as a hamstring tear in a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa, which would keep Fernando José Torres out for two to three weeks. Torres made Fernando José Torres return in a 2–1 victory against Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League and went on to score a brace in the Merseyside derby against Everton on 27 September to give Liverpool a 2–0 win. Fernando José Torres 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. The first of these was Liverpool's thousandth Premier League goal. Torres picked up a hamstring injury during a 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 6, meaning Fernando José Torres was likely to miss three games for Liverpool. On 22 October, Liverpool played Torres' former club Atlético Madrid in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón, but Fernando José Torres injury meant Fernando José Torres missed out on the game. The Atlético president, Enrique Cerezo, had given Fernando José Torres a Very Important Person invitation to watch the game, but Fernando José Torres declined this to recover Fernando José Torres rehabilitation from injury in Merseyside. Fernando José Torres was named in the FIFPro FIFPro World XI team for the 2007–08 season on 27 October.

Torres made Fernando José Torres return for Liverpool after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in a 3–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion F.C.. Fernando José Torres said Fernando José Torres 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." Fernando José Torres 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 Fernando José Torres picked up a hamstring strain, which was later extended to at least four weeks by specialists. Fernando José Torres was named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in December, and eventually came in third place behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Torres returned to action on 3 January 2009 as a substitute with a goal in the 2–0 win over Preston North End F.C.; Fernando José Torres first in the FA Cup. Fernando José Torres scored two late goals for Liverpool to secure a 2–0 victory over Chelsea on 1 February. Despite having spent a year and a half at the club, Torres was chosen as number 50 in The Timess list of "The 50 greatest Liverpool players", reinforcing the impact Fernando José Torres had made at Liverpool in such a short period of time.

Torres faced Fernando José Torres old rivals Real Madrid C.F. on 10 March in the Champions League last 16 and due to an ankle injury, Fernando José Torres had a painkilling injecting before the game to enable Fernando José Torres to play. Fernando José Torres 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. Four days later Fernando José Torres lined up against Manchester United at Old Trafford and Fernando José Torres scored the equaliser in a game that finished as a 4–1 victory. Fernando José Torres was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second season running in April 2009. Torres scored Fernando José Torres 50th goal for Liverpool on 24 May against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the 2008–09 in English football season, which was Fernando José Torres 84th appearance. Following the end of the season, Fernando José Torres signed a new contract with Liverpool, which improved Fernando José Torres terms and included the the option of a one year extension after its expiry in 2013.

International career

In February 2001, Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain under-16 team. The under-16s took part in the 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football 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. making Fernando José Torres Spain's top scorer for qualification, including a vital brace against Belgium national football team and Fernando José Torres first international hat-trick against San Marino national football team. In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia national football team, first in the 76th minute to take Spain 2–1 into the lead, and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th. With three goals, Fernando José Torres finished the tournament as Spain's top scorer along with fellow striker David Villa.

Fernando José Torres was called up for Spain's UEFA Euro 2008 squad, where Fernando José Torres set up Villa to score Spain's first goal of the tournament in the first game in the group stage against Russia national football team. Torres came under criticism for apparently refusing to shake the hand of Spanish manager, Luis Aragonés, after being substituted. Fernando José Torres subsequently denied being angry with the coaching, saying that Fernando José Torres was actually "angry with himself". Torres scored the winner and was named the man of the match in the UEFA Euro 2008 Final against Germany national football team in a 1–0 victory. Fernando José Torres 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." Fernando José Torres was later named as a striker along with Fernando José Torres striking partner Villa in the Team of the Tournament.

Torres made Fernando José Torres 60th appearance for Spain in a 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 5 victory over Turkey national football team on 28 March 2009, becoming the youngest player to reach this milestone. In a season plagued by injuries, Fernando José Torres missed out on a number of qualification matches, but scored against Chile national football team after coming on in the second half for Villa. Fernando José Torres was named in Spain's team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June. Fernando José Torres scored Fernando José Torres second hat-trick for Spain after 17 minutes into a Confederations Cup game against New Zealand national football team on 14 June, thus recording the fastest hat-trick by a player for Spain. Fernando José Torres played for Spain as they were defeated 2–0 by the United States national men's soccer team in the semi-final, as well as the third-place play-off, which Spain won 3–2 after extra time.

Personal life

Torres marriage Olalla Domínguez Liste on 27 May 2009 in El Escorial, Madrid, Community of Madrid, with whom Fernando José Torres has been in a romance (love) with since 2001. It was revealed in February 2009 that the couple was expecting a infant, which they later confirmed to be a girl. Olalla gave birth to a daughter, Nora Torres Domínguez, on 8 July 2009 at the Hospital La Rosaleda Compostelan, in Santiago de Compostela.

In 2009, it was reported that Torres has a personal fortune of £14 million. Fernando José Torres features in the video for "Ya Nada Volverá A Ser Como Antes" by Spanish rock group El Canto del Loco, whose singer, Dani Martín, shares a strong friendship with the footballer. Fernando José Torres makes a cameo appearance in the 2005 comedy film Torrente 3: El protector.