From local Madrid idol to Kop hero and European Championship winner, one of soccer's hottest properties talks about the unique challenges faced in his two years in England, with candid snapshots of his life on and off the field
At the age of 25, Spain’s Fernando Torres has already established himself as one of the Liverpool greats and a proud wearer of the fabled No. 9 shirt. His first book tells the captivating story of his career to date. Nicknamed "El Nino" (The Kid), Torres opens up about life on the streets beside Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium, signing for the club at 15, and appointed club captain by 19. When Liverpool broke their club transfer record to bring Torres to Anfield in 2007, it proved the turning point in his career. Competing in the goldfish bowl of the English Premier League, playing alongside Liverpool heroes like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and in the company of Spanish teammates Pepe Reina, Xavi Alonso, and Albert Rieira, and performing in front of the Kop who quickly adopted him as one of their own, Torres describes what it means to him to play on one of the greatest stages in world soccer and compares and contrasts life in Spain with his new career in England. Torres also discusses his life out of the spotlight with his childhood sweetheart Olalla, his family and friends, and what inspires and motivates him.
作者簡介
Fernando Torrres was born in Madrid in March 1984. He played for his first football team, aged 5, as a goalkeeper and signed as a professional for Atletico Madrid aged 15, made his first-team debut two years later, and became club captain at 19. After 200 appearances for Atletico, he was signed for a club-record GBP20 million by Liverpool in July 2007, and in his debut season in the Premier League became the first Liverpool player in 12 years to score 20 goals. He made his debut for Spain in 2003, has amassed over 50 caps to date, and has played in two European Championships and one World Cup. He scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2008 European Championships Final. He has an older brother and sister, and has a current personal fortune estimated at more than GBP14 million.
