Fernando Torres – a career in pictures

Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is set to call time on his 18-year playing career.

The 35-year-old made his breakthrough at Atletico Madrid before a prolific spell with Liverpool preceded Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup wins with Chelsea.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the World Cup winner’s career in pictures.

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Atletico Madrid hotshot Fernando Torres, then 22, starred when England played Spain in a February 2007 friendly at Wembley (Peter Byrne/PA)

Rafael Benitez brought Torres to Anfield for a reported fee of &pound;20million in July 2007 — Rafael Benitez brought Torres to Anfield for a reported fee of £20million in July 2007 (Peter Byrne/PA)

Fernando Torres became an instant fan favourite at Anfield — With 24 Premier League goals in his first season, Torres became an instant fan favourite at Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA)

Torres celebrates scoring his second goal of an eventual Anfield hat-trick against Hull in September 2009 (Peter Byrne/PA)

Torres is airborne during a 2-1 home Champions League defeat by Fiorentina in December 2009 — Torres takes to the sky during a 2-1 home Champions League defeat by Fiorentina in December 2009 (Martin Rickett/PA)

Torres goes to ground after a challenge by Manchester United&rsquo;s Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford in September 2010 — Torres goes to ground after a challenge by Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford in September 2010 (Gareth Copley/PA)

Not all Liverpool fans were gracious when Torres made a deadline-day switch to Chelsea in January 2011 (Dave Thompson/PA)

Torres was reunited with Liverpool and Lucas Leiva in a League Cup quarter-final in November 2011 (Nick Potts/PA)

Torres and Didier Drogba celebrate victory in the 2012 FA Cup final (Rebecca Naden/PA)

Two weeks later, Torres and Juan Mata lifted the Champions League trophy after beating Bayern Munich in the final (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Torres was part of the Spain set-up who won the European Championships of 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010 (Niall Carson/PA)

Torres wears a protective mask in a Europa League quarter-final against Rubin Kazan in April 2013 (Nick Potts/PA)

Torres lifted the Europa League trophy with Chelsea in 2013 — Torres went on to lift the trophy with Chelsea following their victory over Benfica in the final in Amsterdam (Nick Potts/PA)

Torres (left) and West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster have a dispute following a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns (Martin Rickett/PA)

Torres tasted Europa League glory again last year, this time with Atletico (Nick Potts/PA)

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