A Sleeping Giant
Atletico Madrid Team in the 1970s. This team won three league titles. (Image courtsey of toplists.com)
Atletico Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in Spain (see infographic on the left)
But in 2001, the club seemed lost. Stuck in the second division of Spanish soccer with an average team and financial problems, it seemed they were destined for mediocrity.
The club needed a hero, someone to pull them out of the depths.
Torres as a child. (Image courtesy of Pinterest)
Atletico Madrid team in the 70s posing with their trophies. (Image courtesy of Atletico fans)
Atletico fans singing their club song (audio courtesy of Football Hazz)
Enter Fernando Torres
Torres coming on to make his debut for Ateltico against CD Leganés. (Gif made using video footage from youtube
user DIPcomps)
"A strange sensation washed over me as I embraced the goalscorer and ran on in his place. I looked up and down the stands where I had stood as fan and thought: 'Here I am where I always dreamed of being'"
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Torres in his autobiography, El Nino, My story.
El Nino
Torres celebrating with teammate and future coach Diego Simone. (Image courtesy of Sky Sports)
Coming on for Atletico Madrid was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Torres, the man nicknamed the Kid (El Nino).
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Madrid is a city dominated by Real fans. But Torres became an Atletico fan because of his grandfather who taught him to reject the glitz and glamour of Real and instead embrace the hardworking nature of a club like Atletico, said Torres in his autobiography.
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"We Atletico fans are aware that there is a huge difference between the two clubs in Madrid," said Torres in his autobiography. "But I'm proud of supporting Atletico. Our successes are ours and ours alone (...) that makes them more real."
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After narrowly missing out on promotion in his rookie season, Atletico were back in the top flight for the 2002-03 season after finishing as champions of the second division. The 18-year old played an important part in their successful campaign.
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But the best was yet to come.