Ander Herrera
A fiercely intelligent and combative midfielder whose passion and tactical brain made him a cult hero at Manchester United and beyond.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Spanish footballer·Birthday: August 14·Millennials
Biography
Born in Bilbao, Ander Herrera's football journey is one of cultivated intensity. He emerged not from Athletic Club's famed academy but from Real Zaragoza, making his first-team mark as a teenager. His move to Athletic Club in 2011 saw him become the engine of Marcelo Bielsa's thrilling side, his technical precision and relentless pressing capturing attention. A protracted transfer led him to Manchester United in 2014, where he won the Europa League and FA Cup, but more lastingly won over fans with his obvious love for the club's shirt and his knack for nullifying star opponents. Later chapters at Paris Saint-Germain and a heartfelt return to Athletic Club showcased his enduring quality before a bold move to Boca Juniors in Argentina, seeking a final footballing adventure in one of the world's most demanding arenas.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ander was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Ander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Europa League with Manchester United in 2017, scoring in the semi-final.
- Named Manchester United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the 2016-17 season.
- Won two Copa del Rey titles with Athletic Club, in 2015 and 2021.
- Earned two caps for the Spanish national team, making his debut in 2016.
- Lifted multiple domestic trophies with Paris Saint-Germain, including two Ligue 1 titles.
Did You Know?
He holds a law degree, having studied at the University of the Basque Country alongside his early football career.
His father, Pedro María Herrera, was also a professional footballer who played for Athletic Club.
He was a childhood friend and teammate of Cesc Fàbregas in the youth ranks of Barcelona.
He famously marked Chelsea's Eden Hazard out of a game in 2017, a tactical masterclass praised by manager José Mourinho.
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