- Birthdate: 14 Aug 1989
- Birthplace: Bilbao, Spain
- Position: Midfielder
- Joined United: 26 Jun 2014
- Joined From: Athletic Bilbao
- United Debut: 16 Aug 2014 v Swansea (H)
Ander Herrera joined Manchester United in June 2014 to become the first new arrival of the Louis van Gaal era. Although it was a wrench to leave Athletic Club, the Bilbao-born midfielder described the move as a "dream come true".
He endured a stop-start to life in Manchester but, once Ander found his rhythm in the New Year, he never looked back. A dynamic, energetic midfielder, Herrera possesses lightning-quick speed of thought that enables him to provide both intelligent movement and that all-important killer pass. He's also an valuable asset in defence, comfortable in the tackle, but also smarter enough to make crucial interceptions.
It is going forward, however, where Ander really impressed in his first season. Chipping in with eight goals, including a howitzer in the FA Cup against Yeovil, our no. 21 was an ever-present in the last three months of the campaign, playing a crucial role in helping the Reds to secure fourth place and a Champions League berth for 2015/16. He also volleyed the last goal of the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal and developed into a key cog in van Gaal's machine.
His schooling in Spanish football came at Real Zaragoza, where he made 41 first-team appearances and helped them win promotion to La Liga in 2009. Two years later, Herrera moved to Athletic Club in the city of his birth for a reported fee of £6.6million.
As one third of an effective midfield triumvirate that also included Oscar de Marcos and Ander Iturraspe, Herrera became a key component in a team that quickly ascended the ranks of Spanish and European football. In fact, during his first season in Bilbao (2011/12) under the tutelage of maverick manager Marcelo Bielsa, the club were runners-up in the Europa League and Copa del Rey.
Athletic Club knocked out United en route to the Europa League final, home and away in March 2012. Herrera played a starring role at Old Trafford for Bielsa's powerfully energetic side, clocking up 86 minutes of action and one assist for de Marcos. After witnessing his team's second-leg defeat at San Mames, Sir Alex Ferguson said admiringly: “Athletic Club's work rate is higher than any I have seen in Europe. But it is not just about their work rate, they are very good footballers too. They will go far.”
Herrera's own progress was hampered in the following 2013/13 campaign however, with a troublesome hernia injury limiting his appearances while a number of his team-mates secured big moves away from Bilbao. Ander's eventual return to action helped steer Athletic away from the relegation zone. Interest from overseas clubs including United was reported in the summer of 2013 but an exit did not materialise and so he continued to impress in Spain, scoring five goals in 33 games to help Athletic Club finish fourth in 2013/14.
Herrera has so far been capped by every age group with the Spanish national team except the senior side and he notably played alongside David De Gea and Juan Mata for the Under-21s. He also made three appearances for Spain's Olympic team during the 2012 Games in England. Surely though, if Herrera continues to impress in Manchester, his senior bow will not be long in coming.
