Fernando Torres Announces His Retirement

The ex-Liverpool striker has decided to hang up his boots.

It’s been a long time since Fernando Torres fled Roy Hodgson’s debacle as Liverpool manager. In the year 2010 bad things were brewing at the club. Rafa Benitez was gone, Hodgson was in, administration was nigh. The team was peppered with mediocre players, and injury had slowed Torres down to ineffective levels. Javier Mascherano had already left, Hodgeball swung into view, and Torres waited until January then left for what turned out to be a middling three seasons at Chelsea.

But before all of that Fernando Torres was a proficient goalscorer, scoring 65 goals for Liverpool between 2007 and 2011. His highlight reel as a Red is impressive and despite the acrimonious nature of his departure to a rival club Torres can be remembered for providing Liverpool supporters with several seasons worth of elation. His finishing, his cleverness, his speed. Even in that final half of a season, in the games when he gave a damn, he showed signs of his old prowess.

His last hoorah has been spent as a luxury signing for Japanese side Sagan Tosu. After a year in Japan, Torres is now ready to close the curtain on his football career.

He posted a message to Twitter on Friday morning.

“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.”

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. pic.twitter.com/WrKnvRTUIu

— Fernando Torres (@Torres) June 21, 2019

Torres spent his best years as a football player at Liverpool. After leaving London, he moved to AC Milan but did very little and then back to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid where he did just slightly more. Bon voyage to a dynamite player in his prime. Thanks for the good times.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com