It has been a phenomenal season for former Liverpool players taking steps into the world of management.
Clearly, the outstanding example has been Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to a quite stunning campaign.
Having won the Bundesliga undefeated for the first time in German football history, Alonso’s team also picked up the German Cup while making it to the Europa League final.
This inevitably saw strong links for Alonso to replace Jurgen Klopp as the new Liverpool manager. However, the Spaniard’s decision to continue learning his trade at Leverkusen was perhaps the right call.
Alonso’s success appears to have lit the fire in some of his former teammates at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez. One of the most distinguished of those – Fernando Torres – has just taken a first step in management reminiscent of Alonso’s.
Fernando Torres takes over at Atletico B
While Alonso had always had the look of a potential manager in waiting, it’s fair to say that Torres did not.
Nevertheless, the 40-year-old has been working hard over the past few years to build his reputation within the coaching world.
Torres was invited to the AXA Training Centre back in March to shadow Klopp and Pep Lijnders.
And the World Cup winner appears to have put the lessons learned to good effect. Torres led his Atletico Madrid U19s team to a league and cup double in May.
READ MORE: Fernando Torres outlines his coaching philosophy
That success has led to belief within the Spanish media that Torres will one day take charge of the first-team at Atletico.
And on Tuesday the former striker took another step towards that by signing on as the new head coach of the Madrid side’s B team.
“Fernando Torres has signed in as new head coach of the Atletico Madrid B team,” reports journalist Fabrizio Romano on X.
“Agreement signed today with Torres who keeps going with his managerial career.”
Liverpool should be keeping an eye on Fernando Torres
Obviously, there should be caution in suggesting that Torres is about to follow Alonso’s hugely successful path.
However, the early signs are there that the former Liverpool hero could be in for a good career in management.
Torres is taking his pathway as a coach nice and slow. Instead of jumping at any and every opportunity, he is taking a methodical approach and working his way through the system at Atletico.
As a big name in football, he will certainly find himself on the radar of numerous teams if he has success with Atleti’s B team.
With the side set to compete in the Spanish third division, it is a relatively high profile position, just as Alonso’s was with Real Sociedad’s second team.
Arne Slot is now in place to take over from Klopp. As a result, Liverpool are obviously not in immediate need of a new manager. But Torres is certainly a name they should be bearing in mind for the future.