Five clubs,
one national team

The Torres career is better divided by eras than by chronology alone. The Atletico era is seven seasons of becoming, carrying the club out of Segunda. The Liverpool era is three and a half years in which he was the best forward in Europe. The Chelsea era is four complicated seasons in which he won everything and lost himself. The Atletico return era is the finish at home. The Japan era is a quiet goodbye at the other end of the world.

Each era has its own page. There are quotes, statistics, teammates memories, goal recounts, links to archive matches. This is not a wikipedia article. These are long texts written by people who watched these matches live. If you have come to the site for the first time, start with Atletico and work in chronological order. If you want to see the peak, go straight to Liverpool. If you are interested in the hardest period, read Chelsea.

1999–2000: Parquesur youth, then Rayo Parquesur, then Atletico academy

Torres was spotted by an Atletico scout at 11. He was not the fastest or the most technical, but his sharpness in the opposition box and his heading at that age were rare. He started in the Atletico B at 15, during the 1999/2000 season.

2001: debut in the first team against Leganes in Segunda

17 years, 190 days. Torres comes on in the 55th against Leganes in the Spanish second division. Atletico is playing Segunda, an unprecedented situation for a club of this standing. He scores his first senior goal four matches later against Albacete.

2002–2007: Atletico in La Liga, no European football

Torres brings the club back to La Liga, becomes captain at 19, is called up to Spain from 2003. Atletico never reaches the Champions League in these six years. He turns down Arsenal, Milan, Chelsea. In June 2007 he agrees to move to Liverpool.

2007–2011: Liverpool, peak of the career

65 Premier League goals in 102 matches. Fastest 50-goal British forward in club history. Euro 2008 won, Torres scoring the final. In November 2008 he finishes second in the Ballon d'Or vote behind Ronaldo. A knee problem in 2010/2011. January 2011, transfer to Chelsea for 50 million pounds.

2011–2014: Chelsea, trophies and dip

Wins Champions League 2012, Europa League 2013, FA Cup 2012, Euro 2012 with Spain. Personal statistics drop from 24 Premier League goals to 8, 6, 4, 2. At the end of August 2014 he goes to Milan on loan.

2014–2015: Milan, a short chapter

Half a season at San Siro on loan. 10 matches, 1 goal. Milan asks for the money back, Torres asks to return to Atletico. In January 2015 he goes to Atletico on loan for the rest of the season.

2015–2018: second Atletico spell

Three seasons under Simeone. Champions League semifinals. Wins Europa League 2018 and UEFA Super Cup 2018. Farewell tour in May 2018, Fernando parades in front of Vicente Calderon with 60,000 fans.

2018–2019: Sagan Tosu and farewell match

Two seasons in Japan. 7 goals in 25 matches in his first season, 2 goals in 13 matches in his second. Farewell match against Iniesta's Vissel Kobe. 1-1, 15 minutes of ovation.