Fernando Torres has taken his first post in management after being appointed boss of Atletico Madrid’s B Team.
The 40-year-old hung up his boots in 2020, following an illustrious playing career both domestically and for the national team, and joined the coaching staff at his boyhood club in 2021.
Having been in charge of Atletico’s Under-19 side for the past three years, Torres has now been promoted as boss of the club’s B team after previous manager Luis Tevenet joined Diego Simeone’s senior staff.
With Atletico currently playing in the Spanish third tier, it will be the former striker’s first senior management role since retiring.
After being named the new boss, Torres said: ‘I am at home and I feel an enormous responsibility since I decided to face this new stage.
‘It has been three years of constant learning.
‘For me this step is very important and I want to be ambitious to do things better every day, face the challenges that come and the responsibility in the best way and at the same time knowing that I am in no hurry and no need to take a wrong step.
‘I accept it as a great challenge with a lot of ambition and the peace of mind of knowing that we are prepared.’
Torres started his career with Atletico before moving to Liverpool in 2007, where he became an Anfield hero after scoring 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds.
He shockingly moved to Chelsea in the 2011 January transfer window, and while never hitting the same heights for the Blues, he did win the FA Cup and the Champions League while with the club.
While for the national team, the striker was part of Spain’s golden generation, memorably scoring the winner in the final of Euro 2008 before winning the World Cup with country two years later.
After a return to Atletico, Torres finished his career in Japan with Sagan Tosu and will now take his first step into management.
His task will be to prepare his troops for a pathway to the first team, and the former Spanish star is keen to continue their development.
Adding: ‘The first thing is to know what the objective of a subsidiary is, which is to contribute many players to the first team.
‘We have to insist to the players that their dream has to be to play for Atletico de Madrid and prepare them for the first team.
‘The best way to do so is to compete and face a very complicated category with ambition, knowing that Atletico de Madrid requires you to give your all.
‘Try to compete as well as possible, have the team at the top of the table because that is what will prepare them for what. What comes next, hopefully it will be our first team.’
Since retiring, Torres has undergone a massive body transformation since hitting the gym. The Spaniard has bulked up considerably since his playing days after taking up bodybuilding.
