Biography
Who is Fernando Llorente?
Early life and career
Fernando Llorente Javier Llorente Torres was born in Pamplona, Spain, on February 26, 1985. He spent his upbringing in the municipality of Rincón de Soto located in La Rioja. His path into professional football began early when he entered the youth system of Athletic Bilbao in 1996 at the age of 11. He was eligible to join the club because of his family roots in the Navarre region.
Before reaching the top level, he gained experience in various junior ranks. He played alongside Fernando Amorebieta during these development years. By 2003, he moved to the club's farm team, Basconia, which competed in the Tercera División. His performance there earned him a promotion to the reserve squad, Bilbao Athletic, which played in the Segunda División B.
Time at Athletic Bilbao
After scoring four goals for the reserves, Fernando received a contract extension. He made his official debut for the first team on January 16, 2005, during a match against Espanyol that ended in a 1–1 draw. Shortly after, he scored a hat-trick in a Copa del Rey match against Lanzarote, helping his team secure a 6–0 win. Throughout the remainder of that season, he appeared in most league games.
The 2011–12 campaign proved highly productive for the striker. He scored 29 goals across all competitions and helped the team reach the final of the Europa League. His performance in the tournament included goals against Manchester United and Schalke 04. During his time in Bilbao, he became a key figure for the club, eventually leading them to European finals and domestic success before his departure in 2013.
European club career
Fernando joined the Italian club Juventus on July 1, 2013, after his contract in Spain expired. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first Serie A goal against Hellas Verona in September. During his two years in Italy, he won the Serie A title twice. He also contributed to the team's Champions League campaign, scoring against Real Madrid in the group stage.
In 2015, he returned to Spain to sign a three-year contract with Sevilla. He played a significant role in their European campaign, especially scoring the winning goal against his former club Juventus in the Champions League group stage. This victory helped Sevilla qualify for the Europa League, a competition they eventually won for the third consecutive time. He later moved to the Premier League, playing for Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur, where he participated in the 2019 Champions League final.
International success and retirement
Fernando represented the Spain national team between 2008 and 2013. He was part of the historic squads that achieved victory at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. These tournaments marked the height of his international career with the national team.
Following his time in England, he played for several other clubs including Napoli, Udinese, and Eibar. He officially retired from professional football at the age of 38. His career spanned nearly two decades and included stints in the top divisions of Spain, Italy, and England.
Birthday and age
Fernando Llorente was born on February 26, 1985, which makes Fernando 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Fernando shares the date with 41 other famous people.
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