Fernando Torres (42) was predicted to take the helm at Liverpool in the not-too-distant future, drawing attention.
The British newspaper Express reported on the 21st (Korean time) that Fernando Llorente (41), who formerly played for Tottenham, recently told Swedish betting company Harper in an interview that Torres might take the job as Liverpool manager.
Llorente said, "Can Torres become Liverpool's manager? Of course," adding, "He has taken a different path from Cesc Fàbregas (39). He has been patient and steadily built experience from youth teams, preparing patiently."
Fàbregas (39) took charge at Como 1907 after serving as interim manager beginning in 2023 immediately after his retirement. In contrast, Pérez, who retired after stints at Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan and Sagan Tosu (Japan), served as a coach at Atlético Madrileño (second division) and has been the manager since 2024.
At the 2008 Ballon d'Or ceremony, he showed his presence by finishing third behind Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr) and Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami).
Llorente praised him, saying, "Torres had a brilliant playing career and is knowledgeable about football. He has surely finished preparing perfectly while waiting for the right time to take off," adding that he has the makings of a great manager.
Armando de la Morena, a coach who watched Torres at the Atlético Madrid youth team, also told Spanish outlet Marca, "A coach like Torres, if you know a little of his playing career and see the consistent respect he has always shown in his actions, has the makings of a great manager."
He added, "Players who worked with Torres admire the way he communicates tactics and his ability to build concepts," adding, "Even when he was 17 or 18 he spoke very well. He was always respected on and off the pitch for his polite manner and behavior."
He said, "Ultimately a coach has to be like that. He must set an example on and off the pitch. And he meets those conditions," praising him: "If everything goes in the right direction, he could be a future manager responsible for Spanish football, Atlético and, hopefully, the national team."
Torres had the opportunity in 2024 to receive coaching training under former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. But Atlético's board, concerned he might settle at Liverpool, offered extraordinary terms to keep him at the club, a sign of their recognition of his leadership.
Liverpool are currently having a disappointing season under Arne Slot. However, Liverpool's hierarchy still backs Slot, and given that his contract runs until the summer of 2027, the likelihood of Torres taking over early is low.
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