Retiring Spain Star Fernando Torres Eyes Future Coaching Role

Fernando Torres made 142 appearances for Liverpool, finding the net 81 times in his prime.

Torres, dubbed “El Nino” during his heyday, played 334 times in total for Atletico, scoring 111 goals.

(Photo: AP)

Spanish World Cup winner Fernando Torres said on Sunday, 23 June, his body could no longer cope with the physical demands of football after announcing his retirement from the game.

But the 35-year-old, once one of the deadliest marksmen in the world, would not rule out a future in coaching.

The former Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea striker finished his career at Japanese club Sagan Tosu after joining the J-League side last year.

"I have a high demand of myself - I always want to be honest and perform at the level I think I should," said Torres, who scored Spain's winning goal in the 2008 European championships and played a key role in their 2010 World Cup triumph.

“Knowing my body and listening to my body, I think, especially mentally, that time (when I can’t perform at the top level) is not far and I wanted to end my career in a good way before that happens”.

Fernando Torres

"I always gave everything I had and I still will give in the next two months," added Torres, whose last game will be against former Spain team mate Andres Iniesta's Vissel Kobe on 23 August .

Torres tweeted his retirement on Friday, saying: "After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career." He left Atletico last summer to play in Japan after returning to his boyhood club in 2015 but has struggled with form and injuries.

Torres, dubbed "El Nino" during his heyday, played 334 times in total for Atletico, scoring 111 goals.

He made 142 appearances for Liverpool, finding the net 81 times in his prime, before joining Chelsea where he scored 45 goals in 172 matches for the London club.

Asked about the future, Torres told a news conference in Tokyo he would continue in an advisory role for Sagan, likely identifying Spanish youth players for the Kyushu club.

He also did not rule out becoming a manager or coach back in Europe.