With a history filled with stratospheric highs and crushing lows, there is never a dull moment for Atletico Madrid fans. In the last decade Atleti fans may not have had a huge number of trophies to shout about but they have had a thrilling team to watch. Much of the credit for that must go down to the combined talents of teenage prodigies Fernando Torres and Sergio Aguero.
Joining Atletico at the age of just 11, Torres devoted more than a decade to the club he has always supported. In 2001 he made his debut in the famous red-and-white striped shirt, during one of the club's low periods. After relegation in 2000, they were fighting to get back into La Liga. In the 2001-02 season they achieved this and Torres had the chance to show what he could do in one of the finest leagues in the world.
He did not disappoint, hitting 13 goals in his first season and 19 in his second, sharing the golden boot in the process. The influence of this homegrown hero was such that at the age of just 19 he was handed the captain's armband. After turning down numerous approaches from other clubs, in 2007 Torres said an emotional farewell to the Vicente Calderon and left for Liverpool, with the respect he had enjoyed throughout his stay still intact. In all he scored 84 goals in his 200 appearances.
Sergio “Kun” Aguero could not claim the same Atleti heritage when he arrived from Independiente in 2006. But with his enthusiasm for the game and precocious talent, the fresh-faced Argentinian was soon taken to the hearts of the Vicente Calderon faithful. His partnership with Uruguayan hotshot Diego Forlan is the envy of most team's in Europe and with Jose Antoni Reyes providing the ammunition from the wing, there should be plenty more exciting seasons to come for Atletico.
Started as a feeder team for Athletic Bilbao and originally turning out in Blackburn Rovers shirts, the story of Atletico Madrid is not your average football club history. Along the way the blue and white shirts were dropped for red and white ones and the ties with Athletic Bilbao severed to leave them standing along to fight off the dominance of their city rivals, Real Madrid.
It was always going to be a difficult task to tackle such a giant but on many occasions Atleti have got the better of their neighbours. The club boasts nine La Liga titles, nine Copa del Reys, and on the European stage, a UEFA Cup Winners Cup and Europa League title. A European Cup is the only thing missing in the trophy cabinet, but with a move to a new stadium planned and a squad bursting with talent that spot could be filled sooner rather than later.