Fernando Torres confirms retirement aged 35 after stellar 18-year career at top

FERNANDO TORRES has confirmed his retirement from football aged 35.

The Liverpool great will hold a press conference on Sunday to explain his decision.

Torres, who also spent a spell at Chelsea, has been playing in Japan since leaving boyhood club Atletico Madrid.

He will be most fondly remembered on Merseyside after arriving from the Spanish capital in 2007.

The lethal striker scored 81 goals in 142 games for the Reds before joining rivals Chelsea.

His form dipped with the Blues but the ace lifted the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.

Torres won 110 caps for Spain and his 38 goals are only bettered by David Villa and Raul.

The hitman’s career has also sen him spend two spells with Atleti, as well as a loan with AC Milan and finally two seasons with Sagan Tosu.

Madrid-born Torres – a World Cup and two-time European Championship winner – has fired in 260 strikes in 756 club games as well as his international haul.

Tributes have been pouring in for Torres with a Chelsea fan tweeting: “Will always love you no matter what!!!

“That goal against Barca, that corner win in Munich (we only had 1 corner the whole game)… FERNANDO TORRES CHELSEA’S NUMBER 9!”

While another Blues supporter added: “European King. Thanks for the memories El Niño”.

And a Reds supporter added: “Best of Luck El Niño for the future  One of my favorite players of all time”.