Liverpool legend Fernando Torres set to be appointed to NEW coaching role
Fernando Torres' fledgling coaching career is set to enter a new chapter. From next season, the former Liverpool striker will take over Atlético Madrid's reserve team.
While official club channels have not yet publicly announced the decision, due to Atlético B still having five matches left to play this season, Spanish outlet AS is reporting that it's a done deal.
'El Niño' is already firmly established on the coaching scene at his boyhood club, having spent the last three years coaching in Atlético's youth teams.
He knows the club inside out, is revered by the fans, and is held up as a role model for the academy prospects.
In two seasons, the Atlético Juvenil team clinched the league title ahead of archrivals Real Madrid and made history by reaching the Youth League Final Four for the first time ever, proving their mettle against Europe's elite.
A track record of nurturing young talent
Besides the impressive trophy haul, Torres has also nurtured a number of players for the reserve team, such as Pablo Barrios, Iturbe, Kostis, El Jebari and now Rayane.
Barrios, in particular, has already established himself as a seasoned player, while the others hold plenty of promise for the future.
Currently focused on guiding Atlético's youth team to victory in the Copa de Campeones, Torres's three-year stint will soon be over and the announcement will be made once the season concludes.
Big shoes to fill
Now, as his charges age, Torres will also make the step up, taking over the B team, which has achieved remarkable success under Luis Tevenet in the last three years.
The 49-year-old has achieved two promotions, and the team currently sits mid-table in the Primera Federación, competing well against major teams such as Malaga.
However, despite his success, Tevenet's contract is expiring, and there's been no move from the club to extend his tenure. Undoubtedly, he'll be a man in demand due to his stellar track record at Atlético. However, at his age, he may well have already reached his ceiling.
For Torres, however, having just turned 40, the best is still ahead of him.
The World Cup winner has recently reconnected with his Liverpool roots, starring in a recent Legends match against Ajax at Anfield, where he netted once more in front of the Kop.