Etsuo Hara/Getty Images
World Cup-winning striker Fernando Torres has announced plans to retire from football.
The 35-year-old is playing for Sagan Tosu in Japan and tweeted that a press conference will be held in Tokyo on Sunday to clarify his future:
Fernando Torres @Torres
I have something very important to announce. After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career. Next Sunday, the 23rd at 10:00AM, local time in Japan, I will have a press conference in Tokyo to explain all the details.See you there. https://t.co/WrKnvRTUIu
Former Liverpool and Chelsea frontman Torres started his career with Atletico Madrid’s youth team. He spent six years in the club’s academy and another six years in their senior side before earning his first major transfer when moving to Liverpool in 2007.
He scored 81 times in 142 appearances for Liverpool, the most prolific strike rate he’s held at any club.
Torres also won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League during a four-year stint with Chelsea and continued to break records despite a rocky stay at Stamford Bridge:
B/R Football @brfootball
When @Torres held the World Cup, Champions League, European Championship and Europa League at the same time
https://t.co/2W3Cm8QVuc
The veteran forward later joined AC Milan and returned to Atletico in 2015 after eight years away from his boyhood club, where he enjoyed a slight renaissance before leaving for the J1 League.
Torres’ stay in Japan hasn’t been as successful as many might have expected—he’s scored four times in 32 appearances for Sagan Tosu and is contracted to the club until January 2020.
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Liverpool remembered their servant of four years at his best for the Reds despite never winning a major trophy with the club:
Liverpool FC @LFC
All the best in your retirement, @Torres!
https://t.co/N3szzXAwDD
Chelsea also paid tribute to their old star and celebrated his last-minute winner against Barcelona in the semi-finals of the 2011-12 Champions League:
Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC
Enjoy your retirement, @Torres!
https://t.co/Lnu7wk5SIE
The Blues later went on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties in that season’s final and lift their only Champions League crown to date.
Torres and David Villa—now playing alongside Andres Iniesta with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe—formed a devastating strike partnership for Spain at their peak and were crucial throughout the gilded run of 2008-12.
However, it was Torres who scored the only goal against Germany in the UEFA Euro 2008 final to mark arguably the most important strike of his career:
La UEFA @UEFAcom_it
Fernando @Torres annuncia il suo ritiro dal calcio giocato
#UCL
#UEL
Coppa del Mondo FIFA
UEFA EURO
Torres won trophies in Spain and England but will be best remembered for his exploits with Spain’s national team after winning three of the six major tournaments he appeared in.
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