Ander Herrera

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Herrera and the second or maternal family name is Agüera.
Ander Herrera

Herrera with Manchester United in a friendly match against Real Madrid in 2014
Personal information
Full name Ander Herrera Agüera
Date of birth (1989-08-14) 14 August 1989
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position Central Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 21
Youth career
2004–2008 Real Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2008–2009 Real Zaragoza B 10 (2)
2009–2011 Real Zaragoza 82 (6)
2011–2014 Athletic Bilbao 94 (7)
2014– Manchester United 48 (9)
National team‡
2009 Spain U20 10 (3)
2009–2011 Spain U21 15 (4)
2012 Spain U23 5 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 April 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 July 2014

Ander Herrera Agüera (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈandeɾ eˈreɾa aˈɣweɾa]; born 14 August 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He began his career at Real Zaragoza before moving to his home-town club Athletic Bilbao in 2011, and then to Manchester United for €36 million in 2014. He has also won tournaments with Spain at Under-20 and Under-21 level and represented the nation at the 2012 Olympics.

Club career

Real Zaragoza

Born in Bilbao, Herrera began his football career at Real Zaragoza, and made his professional debut in the Segunda División in the 2008–09 season. He made 19 appearances that season as the Aragonese club made an immediate return to La Liga. He made his top-flight debut on 29 August 2009, in a 1–0 home win against CD Tenerife.[2]

During the 2009–10 campaign, Herrera was one of Zaragoza's most used players as the club managed to retain its top-flight status. He scored his first league goal on 6 December, but in a 4–1 away defeat to RCD Mallorca.[3]

In 2010–11, Herrera continued to feature regularly for Zaragoza, under both José Aurelio Gay and his successor Javier Aguirre.

Athletic Bilbao

On 7 February 2011, he agreed to join his home-town club Athletic Bilbao on a five-year contract for a reported €7.5 million effective as of 1 July. Buyout clauses were set at €36 million in his first three seasons and €40 million in the remainder.[4]

Herrera made his official debut for Athletic on 18 August 2011, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Trabzonspor in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. He appeared in 54 official matches in his first year with the Basque club (four goals), who reached both the Copa del Rey and the Europa League finals.

Manchester United

Herrera was the subject of a £24 million offer from Manchester United in August 2013, but the bid was rejected by Athletic Bilbao.[5] A year later, Manchester United tried to sign him again. On 26 June 2014, Athletic Bilbao announced on their official website that they had rejected a €36 million (£28.85 million) bid from Manchester United for Herrera.[6] Athletic Bilbao later confirmed that Herrera had activated his buyout clause, allowing United to sign him.[7] Manchester United announced on the same day they had completed the signing of Herrera on a four-year contract pending the receipt of an International Transfer Certificate.[8]

2014–15 season

Herrera made his Manchester United debut on 23 July 2014 in the first match of the club's pre-season tour of the United States, playing the full 90 minutes and making three assists in the 7–0 win over LA Galaxy.[9] His competitive debut came in the opening game of the Premier League season on 16 August, a 2–1 home defeat to Swansea City. He played 67 minutes before being substituted for Marouane Fellaini.[10] Herrera picked up an injury during training and missed Manchester United's next two games against Sunderland and Burnley.[11] In his first game back after returning from injury, against Queens Park Rangers on 14 September 2014, he scored his first goal for the club and made an assist as Manchester United won the game 4-0.[12] He scored again in United's next game, flicking in Ángel Di María's shot with his backheel in their 5–3 defeat to newly promoted Leicester City on 21 September.[13]

Herrera provided an assist to Van Persie against Hull City on 29 November in a 3–0 win and was then awarded man of the match for his brilliant performance. He provided another assist to Marouane Fellani in a 2–1 win against Stoke City on 2 December 2014.[14] Herrera scored his first FA Cup goal with a dipping effort in a third round tie against Yeovil Town on 4 January 2015.[15] Herrera followed his cup goal against Yeovil with an important equalising goal against Preston North End in the FA Cup fifth round; United would go on to win the tie 3–1 and progress to the quarter final stage.[16] Herrera started a Premier League game for the first time since 2 December against Swansea City, scoring United's only goal – his fifth of the season – in a 2–1 defeat.[17] On 22 March 2015, he provided an assist for Juan Mata's goal in a 2–1 win over Liverpool.[18] The following fixture, Herrera scored the first brace of his career to help United beat Aston Villa 3–1; he was also named man of the match for his performances.[19]

2015–16 season

On 26 August 2015, Herrera in his first start of the season, provided an assist for Wayne Rooney's second goal and scored the fourth goal in a 4–0 win (7–1 aggregate) over Belgian side Club Brugge in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.[20] He scored his second goal of the season from the penalty spot in Manchester United's 3–1 home win over Liverpool on 12 September.[21]

International career

Herrera playing for Spain U21s in 2011

Herrera was a member of the Spain Under-20 squad which won gold in football at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy.[22] Herrera was selected by Spanish under-21 coach Luis Milla to the 2011 UEFA European Championship in Denmark. On 12 June, in the group stage opener against England, he scored a controversial goal in an eventual 1–1 draw.[23]

In the final against Switzerland, through another header, Herrera netted the first goal in an eventual 2–0 win in Aarhus.[24]

Style of play

Herrera's style of play led to comparisons with former United legend Paul Scholes,[25][26] and was praised by the man himself as United's best signing.[27]

Personal life

Herrera's father, Pedro María, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too played for Zaragoza and also for Celta de Vigo (in a total of three professional clubs), and at both clubs he served as general manager.[28][29] His girlfriend is Isabel Collado.[30]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 28 February 2016[31][32]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Zaragoza B 2008–09 102–––102
Real Zaragoza 2008–09 19200––192
2009–10 30220––322
2010–11 33220––352
Total 82640––866
Athletic Bilbao 2011–12 32192–131544
2012–13 29120–41352
2013–14 33560––395
Total 947172–17212811
Manchester United 2014–15 2665200–318
2015–16 213301062315
Total 4798310626213
Career totals 223222941023427430

Honours

International

Spain U21
Spain U20

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Player Profile Ander Herrera". Premier League. 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "El Zaragoza regresa a Primera con Victoria" [Zaragoza returns to Primera with win] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Mallorca maintain home run; ESPN Soccernet, 6 December 2009
  4. ↑ Athletic confirm Herrera deal; ESPN Soccernet, 7 February 2011
  5. ↑ "Manchester United move for Ander Herrera and 'bid for Daniele De Rossi'". The Guardian. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Rechazada oferta del Manchester United" [Offer from Manchester United dismissed] (in Spanish). athletic-club.net. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Herrera pays release clause". athletic-club.net (Athletic Bilbao). 26 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Club statement on Ander Herrera". Manchester United F.C. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Stone, Simon (24 July 2014). "Man Utd beat LA Galaxy: Louis van Gaal off to winning start". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Bevan, Chris (16 August 2014). "Man Utd 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera face injury scans". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Man Utd 4–0 QPR". BBC Sport. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Leicester City fought back from 3–1 down to secure a stunning victory over a defensively frail Manchester United.". BBC Sport. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Jurejko, Jonathan (2 December 2014). "Man Utd 2–1 Stoke". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  15. ↑ McNulty, Phil (4 January 2015). "Yeovil 0–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Preston 1–3 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (21 February 2015). "Swansea 2–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  18. ↑ Parker, Paul (23 March 2015). "Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick key to Man United success". ESPN FC (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  19. ↑ Emons, Michael (4 April 2015). "Manchester United 3–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  20. ↑ Mitten, Andy (26 August 2015). "Wayne Rooney hits hat trick, Man United into Champions League groups". ESPN FC (ESPN Internet Ventures). Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. ↑ McNulty, Phil (12 September 2015). "Man Utd 3-1 Liverpool". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  22. 1 2 ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0); Pescara 2009, 4 July 2009
  23. ↑ Spain U21 1–1 England U21; BBC Sport, 12 June 2011
  24. ↑ Spain crowned European Under-21 champions; UEFA.com, 25 June 2011 Archived 27 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ "Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera: Paul Scholes was a one-off". Manchester Evening News. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Man United's Ander Herrera insists Paul Scholes is a 'one-off' following comparisons between them". Daily Mirror. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Scholes: Ander Herrera has been Manchester United's best summer signing". Manchester Evening News. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  28. ↑ Ander Herrera se emancipa (Ander Herrera comes of age); El País, 16 June 2011 (Spanish)
  29. ↑ "El padre de Ander ya ganó una final al Barça en el Calderón" [Ander's father already won a final to Barça at the Calderón] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  30. ↑ "Herrera goes for dip after revealing long-term plans at Old Trafford". Mail Online. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  31. ↑ Athletic Bilbao profile
  32. ↑ "Ander Herrera". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 March 2012.

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