Miguel Torres Gómez (Spanish pronunciation:[miˈɣelˈtores]; born 28 January 1986) is a Spanish former footballer. Usually a right-back, he was equally at ease on the other flank.[2]
Torres made his La Liga debut in his fourth consecutive appearance, playing the whole 90 minutes in the 1–0 home victory over Real Zaragoza on 14 January 2007.[6] He kept his place in the side the following week against RCD Mallorca, with that performance leading coach Fabio Capello to state: "It is not easy to find a player with as much personality and talent in attack and defence as Torres".[7]
On 10 February 2007, against Real Sociedad, Torres made his first assist: after a quick run on the left flank he provided a left-footed (he was right-footed by nature) cross for Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose header found the net as Madrid came from behind to win it away 2–1.[8]
With Torres as an important piece, Real Madrid won their 30th league title; however, he was unable to play in the decisive game with Mallorca due to a hamstring tear.[9] He signed his first professional contract on 12 July 2007, joining the main squad permanently from Real Madrid Castilla.[10]
Although Torres appeared in more league matches in the following season, he would start significantly less as Madrid repeated league honours, primarily due to the signing of Argentine Gabriel Heinze.[11] During the 2008–09 campaign, still under Bernd Schuster first and later Juande Ramos, he did not fare any better;[12][13] additionally, he switched back from number 38 to 22 which he previously wore with Castilla.[14]
Torres was challenged by new signing Juan Valera for the right-back position in the 2011–12 season, under new manager Luis García,[17][2] but still contributed 23 league matches as the Madrid outskirts team again retained their status. On 16 April 2012 he scored his only goal in the top division, opening a 5–1 home defeat of Sevilla FC.[18][19]
Olympiacos and Málaga
On 9 August 2013, Torres joined Olympiacos F.C. from Greece on a three-year deal worth a reported €500,000, reuniting with Míchel who also coached him at Getafe and Real Madrid Castilla.[20] After only ten competitive games he returned to Spain's top flight a year later, signing a one-year contract at Málaga CF with the option of two more.[21]
During his later spell at the La Rosaleda Stadium, Torres suffered several injury problems and was also deemed surplus to requirements by manager Juan Ramón López Muñiz.[22] On 4 July 2019, the 33-year-old announced his retirement from football.[23]
International career
Torres made his debut for the Spain under-21 team on 6 February 2007 in a 2–2 draw against England,[24] remaining a regular in subsequent fixtures.
^Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (10 February 2007). "Regalo de Beckham a Capello" [Beckham offers one to Capello]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^Ballesteros, Jesús (14 August 2014). "Miguel Torres ya es jugador del Málaga" [Miguel Torres is already a Málaga player]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
^Fernández, Juanje (4 July 2019). "Miguel Torres dice adiós al fútbol" [Miguel Torres says goodbye to football]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2019.
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