Fernando Llorente Torres

Zone Soccer Player | Fernando Llorente Torres | A Spanish international since late 2008, he helped the national team win the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Several seasons he spent in the junior Various levels of the club, moving in 2003 to CD Baskonia of Tercera División, Effectively Athletic's youth team, and also a feeder club since 1997. Llorente scored 12 goals in 33 appearances for Baskonia, paving way for his promotion to Athletic Bilbao, Athletic's reserve team, then in the Segunda División B.  After featuring in 16 games and scoring four goals for the Athletic Bilbao in the first half of season, Llorente was awarded with a contract extension until June 2008.  Before the 2005-06 season, Llorente's squad number was Promoted from number 32 to 9. He scored in the opening day, a Basque derby against Real Sociedad 3-0 win.

Athletic's poor form and lack of goals led to coach Félix Sarriugarte into rotating the players, allowing Llorente to force his way back into the side. Llorente ended the season with only two goals in 23 matches, although he did score an Important goal in the closing minutes of a 1-1 away draw with Valencia CF. In preparation for the 2007-08 season, Llorente scored six goals in as many pre-season games, and another against CD Numancia Caja Duero in the Trophy.  Prior to 2008-09, Llorente was confident of a Successful Season. "I know that I am capable of scoring Despite Athletic's modest start to the season, he netted 14 league goals - a career-best - with another four in the Cup, Helping his team reach the final against Barcelona (1-4 loss). In the 2009-10 season, Llorente netted again in double figures; additionally, he led all Scorers in the Europa League for a lengthy period, with eight goals. He added 14 in the league as Athletic finished in eighth position.

On 28 August 2010, Llorente scored the first goal of 2010-11, in a 1-0 win at Hercules CF. His form continued in the next ten league fixtures, as he found the net seven times, eventually finishing the season with 18 goals (19 overall), as Athletic qualified to the Europa League. In January / February 2012, in two away games separated by only four days, Llorente scored five goals: he started with a hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Rayo Vallecano, adding two in Athletic's win over CD Mirandés for the Spanish Cup semifinals (2-1).  Llorente scored on both legs of the 2011-12 Europa League round-of-16 against Manchester United, as Athletic won both games and went through 5-3 on aggregate.

Llorente represented Spain at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. On 14 November 2008, senior national team manager Vicente del Bosque called Llorente for a friendly against Chile. After scoring 14 goals for Athletic in 2008-09, del Bosque named Llorente in his 23-man squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He came from the bench against hosts South Africa, and scored in a 2-0 victory.  During the 2009-10 season, Llorente was not called up once, as Álvaro Negredo del Bosque favored. Additionally, Llorente was called several times by the Basque Country national football team. He scored one goal for the tricolor in a match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, in 2006.

Personal information
Full name Fernando Llorente Torres
Date of birth 26 February 1985 (age 27)
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Athletic Bilbao
Number 9

Youth career
Funes FC 1994-1995
1995-1996 River Ebro
1996-2003 Athletic Bilbao

Senior career
years Team
Baskonia 2003-2004 33 (12)
Athletic Bilbao 2004-2005 16 (4)
2005-Athletic Bilbao 231 (80)

National team
2003 Spain U17 3 (2)
2005 Spain U20 4 (5)
2005-2006 Spain U21 9 (5)
2008-Spain 20 (7)

Honours

Club
Athletic Bilbao
     Spanish Cup: Runner-up 2008-09
     Spanish Supercup: Runner-up 2009

Country
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
     FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009
     UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup: 2003

Individual
     FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005 Silver Boot

Posted in: Athletic Bilbao,Funes FC,Pamplona,River Ebro,Spain