Given the number of footballers in the world, it takes something special to actually be remembered once your contract comes to an end and you inevitasbly move on, but Fernando Torres is certainly a player that will be remembered.
The man from Fuenlabrada fell in love with Atletico Madrid when he was a youngster, before joining the ranks of the club's youth team at the age of 11.
It quickly became clear that this was not just any other youngster, Torres had something special and huge potential.
From his time in the Dvisión de Honor, the Spanish youth league, tongues started wagging about what he could go on and become and his nickname was born.
No one knew much at all about this child, this 'Niño' that was taking the division by storm, producing jaw-dropping displays with unerring regularity.
- Promotion to the first team -
When his first-team debut came, Atletico were not at their best, marooned in the Segunda (the Spanish second division), desperatley battling for a return to the promised land.
Cometh the hour, cometh the fan. In rode 'El Niño', desperate to help the club he love so much. A Madrid derby against Leganés provided his first taste of professional action at the age of just 17, with his first goal coming barely a week later against Albacete.
With his passion, desire, perseverance and inate goalscoring quality, Torres, along with the rest of his Atleti team-mates helped the club secure promotion.
- From La Liga to the Premier League -
Torres remained a fixture in the Atletico first team until 2006/07, when the lure of the Premier League came calling and Torres accepted the charges. A stunning spell at Liverpool was followed by a more frustrating period with Chelsea and eventually a loan spell in Milan with AC.
Eventually, though, the wanderer returned to Atletico in December 2014. 'The Kid' had become a man and it was time for him to retun home.
- A dream come true -
Torres' dream was always to claim silverware with the club that he fell in love with as a child and he was made to wait until the 11th hour to do so. Having battled through the Segunda and helped the club reestablish itself at the top level, he eventually delivered a Europa League title to the fanbase he remains a part of.
Such was the level of emotion that he felt celebrating the title that he could barely get his words out, opting instead for an emotional letter that will forever remain in the hearts of the Atleti faithful. "I feel like I owe you less now. Thank you for all you have given me, I'm sorry I gave so little back," he wrote.
Eibar will be Torres' final opponents in an Atletico shirt on Saturday as living legend's time at the club comes to a close.