Ander Herrera - The Diminutive Basque Magician

Athletic Club De Bilbao have always been known as a club who stick to their principles - their Basque-only transfer policy has restricted their growth as compared to their La Liga counterparts over the years. Their academy has produced some world class players only to see them leave for bigger and better clubs eventually. So how proud they must have felt when they saw a young Basque star flowering before them at Real Zaragoza, a player who has the potential to be at the heart of the Spanish football team. Athletic splashed €8.5 million for Ander Herrera in February 2011 to help their push towards the luxurious, profitable and elite world of the UEFA Champions League.

Herrera began his football career at Real Zaragoza where his father worked as the club director and he made his senior debut in the Spanish Second Division in 2008-09. He made 19 appearances in his first season as Zaragoza won promotion back to La Liga.

Herrera was instrumental in his first season in La Liga as he featured on a regular basis for Zaragoza, netting his first top division goal in a 4-1 defeat by Mallorca. He enjoyed another successful season in 2010-11 under both Jose Aurelio Gay and Javier Aguirre. Athletic Bilbao had been keeping an eye on him since December 2010 and after being convinced of his ever blossoming potential, swooped in for him in February 2011 on a five-year contract, effective as of July 1.

Herrera is a potential Spanish national team star

TALENT SCOUTAthletic Bilbao’s Basque playmaker Ander Herrera takes center stage in this edition’s Talent Scout

It was fitting that Herrera signed for Athletic Bilbao, where he would play alongside the likes of Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez, Oscar De Marcos and the ‘Spanish Messi’ Iker Muniain. Athletic manager Marcelo Bielsa has transformed this Basque outfit into a brilliant attacking team - he has instilled a sense of confidence and swagger in his young squad.

And Herrera is at the heart of it. He is technically gifted and he possesses a feel for the ball that is reminiscent of Andres Iniesta. There have been comparisons drawn between the two Spaniards with Herrera tipped to succeed Iniesta in the national team. He played a starring role at the European Under-21 Championships for the Spanish as he scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win against Switzerland in the final.

Herrera is the vital cog in Bielsa’s Athletic machine, he loves being at the heart of the action and brings his team mates into the game. With Muniain coming in from the wing and Llorente and Toquero always willing runners up front, Ander Herrera seems to have found the platform to develop his massive potential.

Final Whistle Issue #4