The Spanish and Liverpool forward is in the running for the prestigious UEFA award following the penultimate vote



Fernando Torres has been shortlisted for this year’s UEFA European Club Footballer of the Year award. The striker is one of the 20 nominees for the important prize.

Following the confirmation of the list of possible candidates, the coaches of the 16 teams which reached the knockout stages of last year’s Champions League will now cast their final votes at next Thursday’s draw for the group stages.

The Spanish number ‘9’, who impressed with Liverpool at both domestic and European club competition last season, will be hoping that his club, who drew with Standard Liege away in the first -leg, will be part of the Euro group stage draw.

Along with the award for UEFA European Club Footballer of the Year, there are also individual awards for goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward of the year. The full list of 20 nominees, from which the overall winner will also be selected, is:


UEFA club goalkeeper of the year: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United).

UEFA club defender of the year: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United).

UEFA club midfielder of the year: Michael Essien (Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Paul Scholes (Manchester United).

UEFA club forward of the year: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).