Suggesting that Fernando Torres was once a firm fans favourite at Atletico Madrid is something of an understatement. The Chelsea striker will be hoping to help fire his side into the Champions League final by defeating the club where he made his name before joining Liverpool in a £25m move nearly seven years ago. And when the now 30-year-old first steps onto the Vicente Calderon turf to limber up for Tuesdays first leg, Torres is sure to be granted a warm reception from the supporters who once idolised him. When I asked a selection of Atletico fans for a snapshot of what Torres meant to them, their answers were emphatic and effusive: hero, icon and, most poetically, a shining candle in a sea of darkness. If that all sounds a bit over the top, its important to understand the context of Torress rapid rise from much-hyped wonderkid to global superstar. It came at an otherwise depressing time in Atleticos history. They were playing in the Segunda Division, having been relegated only four years after winning the La Liga and Copa del Rey double in 1996. To make things worse, their bitter rivals Real Madrid were enjoying an era of phenomenal success, claiming three Champions League trophies in five seasons. Just to rub it in a bit more, Reals attack was being brilliantly led by the ultimate local-boy-made-good, Raul, who had progressed through Atleticos youth ranks before moving to the Bernabeu as a teenager, leaving Atletico fans to reflect upon what might have been. Amidst the Rojiblancos gloom, the heralded rise of a young striker called Fernando Torres suddenly gave them rare cause for optimism. Long before his first-team debut, most Atletico followers were aware that Torres had grown up as a devoted fan before joining the club at the age of 11 and signing his first professional contract four years later. Thanks to his exploits at youth level, those Atletico fans eagerly looked forward to the time when he would be old enough to shine for the first team. He even gained international recognition by claiming the player-of-the-tournament award after firing Spain to the European Under-16 Championship title in 2001, scoring the winner from the penalty spot in the final against France. That tournament took place in England and concluded in early May, with the final staged at Sunderlands Stadium of Light after a host team including Glen Johnson, Justin Hoyte and Craig Westcarr had been knocked out in the semi-final by France.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 11:49:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015