Photo By Guillermo Martinez/Europa Press via Getty Images Former Liverpool striker Torres has exceeded all expectations with the Atleti youth team and takes over Atleti B this summer. Over the past 12 months, former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been the rising star of the football coaching world, leading Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible Bundesliga title and being wooed by both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. For many, though, there were always high expectations for Alonso as a manager. There were high expectations for many, too, when it came to former teammate Steven Gerrard—though his career seems to have gone off the rails, with failure at Aston Villa leading him now to the Saudi Pro League. Of the biggest names from Rafa Benitez’ time in charge of Liverpool, though, one not many had pegged as a future manager was striker Fernando Torres. Now, though, he might not be far off eclipsing Gerrard as a promising young trainer. After three seasons running Atletico de Madrid’s youth team—and beating Real Madrid to be named champions in two of those season—Torres has been selected to take over the Atleti B team this summer and sources close to the club have identified him as the top choice to take over for Diego Simeone when the time comes. That time likely wouldn’t be for another couple of years at the very least, and the diverging fortunes of Alonso and Gerrard have clearly shown a couple of years can be a lifetime when it comes to how upcoming managers are viewed. Still, it’s interesting—and, for most, unexpected—to watch Torres reputation grow within the Atleti system, from a former player many were surprised to see entering into management at all to a highly regarded coaching prospect and favourite to take over for a legend in the coming years. Another ex-Red from the Rafa years, industrious forward Dirk Kuyt, has rebounded from a difficult first senior job—a mid-season sacking at second tier Dutch side Den Haag in 2022-23—by guiding Beerschot promotion to the Belgian top flight.

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