Fernando José Torres Sanz Atlético Madrid 1999, MVP

“I really loved my Premier Cup experience with Atlético because it gave me and my team-mates a taste of what life as a professional footballer would be like. The chance for kids to play against teams from all over Europe is just incredible. If I could give them some advice it would be to listen and learn, play with passion and try their best every minute of every game.”

‘el Nino’ Fernando Torres was Tournament MVP in Reggio Emilia, Italy, when Atlético were crowned Premier Cup European Champions.

Voted Best Player and Top Scorer at both the European U-16 & U-19 Championships, Torres made his La Liga debut at just 17 years-of-age. Two years later he became the youngest club captain in Atletico’s history and made his international debut against Portugal.

A key member of the national team during Euro 2004 and the main striker for Spain during the 2006 World Cup, Torres became the most expensive Spanish football player in history when he moved to English Premiership team Liverpool in the summer of 2007. He soon became a firm favourite with fans and was voted Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year.

One of an incredible SIX Premier Cup “old boys” leading Spain to their first European Championship since 1964, (alongside Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Casillas and Reyes) Torres won Man of the Match after scoring a memorable goal in the final to secure the 2008 Euro Champs title.