Fernando Torres will return to his home town on Tuesday 22 March to collect the Gold Medal of Fuenlabrada. The striker is no stranger to this award after the Gold Medal was bestowed on the Spaniard after his country’s success at the 2008 European Championships.

Now in it’s third year, the Gold Medal of Fuenlabrada will be awarded to Fernando Torres in a ceremony to be held in a town where the forward has very close ties to. During the day he will visit a sports complex which will be named of the Spain and Chelsea number ‘9’. Building work is now in its third phase and soon it will be open to sport lovers.

The decision to grant the 26 year old the award was taken during a Municipal hearing on February 5, 2009. The striker was praised for his “sporting and personal values, his professional career in football and his loyalty and dedication to his home town.” Torres was also described as a great “ambassador” for Fuenlabrada. The local mayor Manuel Robles added that the Premier League striker is the town’s best sportsmen and “a worldwide idol.”