Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera
Herrera with Manchester United in 2017
Personal information
Full name Ander Herrera Agüera[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-14) 14 August 1989
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 21
Youth career
2001–2008 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 112 (10)
National team‡
2009 Spain U20 10 (3)
2009–2011 Spain U21 15 (4)
2012 Spain U23 5 (0)
2016– Spain 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:19, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:56, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

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 and the Spain national team.

He began his career at Real Zaragoza, before moving to Athletic Bilbao in 2011 and then to Manchester United for €36 million in 2014. He has since won four trophies, including the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League, and was named the club's player of the year for the 2016–17 season.

He has also won tournaments with Spain at under-20 and under-21 level and represented the nation at the 2012 Olympics. He made his senior international debut in November 2016.

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.[3]

During the 2009–10 campaign, Herrera was one of Real 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.[4]

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

Athletic Bilbao

On 7 February 2011, he agreed to join 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.[5]

Herrera made his official debut for Athletic Bilbao 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 and scored four goals in his first season with the Basque club, who reached the finals of both the Copa del Rey and the Europa League. In his third and final season he played 33 league games as Athletic qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 16 years.

Manchester United

Herrera playing against Real Madrid in 2014

Herrera was the subject of a £24 million offer from Manchester United in August 2013, but the bid was rejected by Athletic Bilbao.[6] 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.[7] Athletic Bilbao later confirmed that Herrera had activated his buyout clause, allowing United to sign him.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] Herrera picked up an injury during training and missed Manchester United's next two games against Sunderland and Burnley.[12] 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.[13] 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.[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 4 April, 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.[18]

2015–16 season

On 26 August 2015, 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.[19] 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.[20] His good form continued with a Man of the Match performance in a 3–0 win against Everton at Goodison Park, in which he scored United's second – heading in from a Marcos Rojo cross, and assisting Rooney's goal in the 2nd Half.[21]

On 25 February 2016, Herrera scored his first European goal at Old Trafford – a powerfully converted penalty in the latter stages of a 5–1 defeat of FC Midtjylland, in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.[22] Later that week, on 28 February, Herrera scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Arsenal.[23] On 23 April, Herrera featured in United's triumph in the FA Cup Semi-final over Everton at Wembley; on as an 87th-minute substitute for Marouane Fellaini with the score tied at 1–1, Herrera played a one-two with Anthony Martial, sending the Frenchman through on goal to score a dramatic injury-time winner to seal a 2–1 win and send United through to the final.[24] United went on to beat Crystal Palace 2–1 in the final, securing the cup and Herrera's first major honour with United.[25]

2016–17 season

Herrera playing for Manchester United in 2017

Herrera's role initially remained limited to substitute appearances under new manager, José Mourinho, with Fellaini preferred in midfield alongside world record signing Paul Pogba. Herrera did, however, start in United's League Cup third round tie versus Northampton Town, and duly registered his first goal of the 2016–17 campaign in his side's 3–1 victory.[26] He was subsequently retained in the starting lineup for the Premier League game against champions Leicester City, and helped his side register a comfortable 4–1 win.[27] Herrera was roundly lauded for his performances both against Leicester City and in the games that followed, and was named man of the match for helping Manchester United restrict free-scoring Liverpool to a 0–0 draw at Anfield.[28][29]

On 26 February, he was named in the starting XI for the EFL Cup Final win against Southampton at Wembley Stadium, and contributed an assist for Zlatan Ibrahimović's second goal of the match which gave United a 3–2 lead and eventually proved to be the winning goal[30] and secured Herrera's second major trophy with United, having also won the 2016 FA Cup Final under then United manager Louis van Gaal.[31] Having been sent off against Chelsea on 13 March at Stamford Bridge in their FA Cup quarter-final match,[32] he turned up with a man of the match display on 16 April against the same team at Old Trafford in the Premier League by shackling Eden Hazard,[33] assisting Marcus Rashford for the first goal, then he himself got on the scoresheet by scoring the second goal which secured a 2–0 win for United which kept them in the hunt for a top-four finish and extending their unbeaten run to twenty-two matches.[34][35]

On 18 May 2017, Herrera was presented with the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.[36] After helping Manchester United win the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final on 24 May, Herrera was awarded the game's man of the match accolade, which he dedicated to victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing which occurred a few days earlier.[37]

2017–18 season

Herrera's chances of playing looked to be diminishing with the arrival of Nemanja Matić, but he remained with the team and fought for his place. On 26 January 2018, he scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 FA Cup fourth round win against Yeovil Town.[38] On 21 April, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.[39]

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.[40]

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.[41] In the final against Switzerland, through another header, Herrera netted the first goal in an eventual 2–0 win in Aarhus.[42] He played for Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[43]

He received his first senior call-up on 3 October 2016, for 2018 World Cup qualification fixtures against Italy and Albania, but did not feature in either game.[44] He made his senior international debut against England, at Wembley Stadium, on 15 November 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw.[45]

Style of play

Herrera's style of play led to comparisons with former United legend Paul Scholes,[46][47] and he was praised by the man himself as United's best signing of the 2014 summer transfer window.[48]

Personal life

Herrera's father, Pedro María, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too played for Real Zaragoza and also for Celta de Vigo (in a total of three professional clubs), and at both clubs he served as general manager.[49][50] His girlfriend is Isabel Collado.[51]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 September 2018[52][53]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Zaragoza B 2008–09 Tercera División 102––––102
Real Zaragoza 2008–09 Segunda División 19200–––192
2009–10 La Liga 30220–––322
2010–11 La Liga 33220–––352
Total 82640–––866
Athletic Bilbao 2011–12 La Liga 32192–131–544
2012–13 La Liga 29120–41–352
2013–14 La Liga 33560–––395
Total 947172–172–12811
Manchester United 2014–15 Premier League 2665200––318
2015–16 Premier League 273601072–415
2016–17 Premier League 31130619010502
2017–18 Premier League 26042206010392
2018–19 Premier League 20001000–30
Total 112101841012222016417
Career total 298253961013942038836

International

As of match played 28 March 2017[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201610
201710
Total20

Honours

Manchester United[53]

Spain U21[53]

Spain U20[53]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Player Profile Ander Herrera". Premier League. 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "El Zaragoza regresa a Primera con Victoria" [Zaragoza returns to Primera with win] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Mallorca maintain home run; ESPN Soccernet, 6 December 2009
  5. ↑ Athletic confirm Herrera deal; ESPN Soccernet, 7 February 2011
  6. ↑ "Manchester United move for Ander Herrera and 'bid for Daniele De Rossi'". The Guardian. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Rechazada oferta del Manchester United" [Offer from Manchester United dismissed] (in Spanish). athletic-club.net. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Herrera pays release clause". athletic-club.net (Athletic Bilbao). 26 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Club statement on Ander Herrera". Manchester United F.C. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Bevan, Chris (16 August 2014). "Man Utd 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera face injury scans". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Man Utd 4–0 QPR". BBC Sport. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "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.
  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. ↑ Emons, Michael (4 April 2015). "Manchester United 3–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ McNulty, Phil (12 September 2015). "Man Utd 3–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "Everton 0–3 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  22. ↑ uefa.com. "Press kits - UEFA Europa League - Media – UEFA.org". UEFA.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Manchester United 3–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Everton 1–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  25. ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United (aet)". BBC Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "Northampton Town 1–3 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "Manchester United 4–1 Leicester City". BBC Sport. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "Jose Mourinho: This Man United star will be with me almost every match". Dailystar.co.uk. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Liverpool 0–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  30. ↑ "Manchester United 3 Southampton 2, EFL Cup final: Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspires Jose Mourinho's side to cup glory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United (aet)". BBC Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  32. ↑ "FA Cup: Manchester United's Ander Herrera sent off after second yellow card". BBC Sport. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  33. ↑ "Jose Mourinho masterclass haunts Chelsea as Herrera stifles Hazard". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  34. ↑ "Man Utd 2 Chelsea 0: Jose Mourinho tactical masterclass blows title race wide open". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  35. ↑ "Report: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0". ManUtd.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  36. 1 2 "Herrera is the 2016/17 Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year". manutd.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  37. ↑ "Herrera named man of the match". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  38. ↑ Kerr, Joshua (24 January 2018). "Yeovil 0 Manchester United 4". Manchester United. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  39. ↑ Mathieson, Stuart (21 April 2018). "Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1". Manchester United. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  40. 1 2 ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0) Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.; Pescara 2009, 4 July 2009
  41. ↑ Spain U21 1–1 England U21; BBC Sport, 12 June 2011
  42. ↑ Spain crowned European Under-21 champions; UEFA.com, 25 June 2011
  43. ↑ "Ander Herrera Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  44. ↑ "Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera gets first full Spain call-up". Daily Mail. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  45. ↑ "England 2–2 Spain: Late Isco equaliser denies Gareth Southgate's side". Sky Sports. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  46. ↑ "Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera: Paul Scholes was a one-off". Manchester Evening News. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "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.
  48. ↑ "Scholes: Ander Herrera has been Manchester United's best summer signing". Manchester Evening News. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "Ander Herrera se emancipa" [Ander Herrera comes of age] (in Spanish). El País. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  50. ↑ "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.
  51. ↑ "Herrera goes for dip after revealing long-term plans at Old Trafford". Mail Online. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  52. ↑ Ander Herrera at Athletic Bilbao
  53. 1 2 3 4 "Ander Herrera". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  54. ↑ "Ander Herrera". eu-football.info. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  55. ↑ "League Cup 2016/2017 " Assists". WorldFootball. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  56. ↑ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season". UEFA. 25 May 2017.
  57. ↑ "Premier League Milestones". Premier League. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
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