Ander Herrera Agüera (born 14 August 1989 in Bilbao, Biscay) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a midfielder.

Club career[link]

After completing his football formation at Real Zaragoza, where his father Pedro (a former player himself) worked as club director, Basque-born Herrera made his professional debuts in 2008–09, in the second division, contributing with 19 matches as the Aragonese immediately returned to La Liga.

He made his first division debut on 29 August 2009, in a 1–0 home triumph against CD Tenerife. During the 2009–10 season, Herrera was one of Zaragoza's most used players, as the club managed to retain its top flight status; the player netted his first goal in the top division on 6 December, but in a 1–4 loss at RCD Mallorca.^[1]

In 2010–11, Herrera continued to feature regularly with Zaragoza, under both José Aurelio Gay and his successor Javier Aguirre. On 7 February 2011, he agreed to join hometown's Athletic Bilbao on a five-year contract, effective as of 1 July.^[2]

Herrera made his official debut for Athletic on 18 August 2011, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Trabzonspor for the season's UEFA Europa League.

International career[link]

Herrera was selected by Spanish under-21 coach Luis Milla to the 2011 UEFA European Football Championship in Denmark. On 12 June, in the group stage opener against England, he scored a controversial goal in an eventual 1–1 draw.^[3]

In the final against Switzerland, through another header, Herrera scored the first goal in an eventual 2–0 win in Aarhus.^[4]

Club statistics[link]

As of 16 March 2012^[5]

Honours[link]

Athletic Bilbao

• UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2011–12

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2011

Spain U20

• Mediterranean Games: 2009

Personal[link]

Herrera's father, Pedro María, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too played for Zaragoza (in a total of three professional clubs), amassing top division totals of 155 games and 18 goals with the club, where he also served as general manager.^[6][7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Ander Herrera – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile

Spain squads v t e Spain squad – 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup 1 Asenjo 2 Azpilicueta (c) 3 José Ángel 4 Domínguez 5 Botía 6 Gullón 7 Aarón 8 Herrera 9 Kike 10 Parejo 11 Alba 12 Fontàs 13 Mejías 14 Laguardia 15 Dídac 16 Romeu 17 Mérida 18 De Marcos 19 Falqué 20 Nsue 21 Mariño Coach: Milla v t e Spain squad – 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Winners (3rd Title) 1 Miño 2 Azpilicueta 3 Domínguez 4 J. Martínez 5 San José 6 Jeffrén 7 Adrián 8 Parejo 9 Bojan 10 Mata 11 Capel 12 Montoya 13 De Gea 14 Nsue 15 José Ángel 16 Ruiz 17 Dídac 18 Herrera 19 Thiago 20 Botía 21 R. Pérez 22 Muniain 23 Mariño Coach: Milla

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Iker Muniain

Personal information
Full name	Iker Muniain Goñi
Date of birth	(1992-12-19) 19 December 1992 (age 19)
Place of birth	Pamplona, Spain
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Winger / Forward
Club information
Current club	Athletic Bilbao
Number	19
Youth career
	Chantrea
2005–2009	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–2010	Bilbao Athletic	19	(6)
2009–	Athletic Bilbao	94	(22)
National team‡
2008	Spain U16	2	(1)
2008–2009	Spain U17	20	(2)
2010	Spain U19	5	(0)
2011	Spain U20	1	(0)
2011–	Spain U21	11	(1)
2012–	Spain	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 May 2012

Iker Muniain Goñi (born 19 December 1992 in Pamplona, Navarre) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, mainly as a left winger.

Due to his style of play, he was dubbed "the Spanish Messi" by the media.^[1]

Club career[link]

A product of Basque giants Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks, Muniain made his first team debut on 30 July 2009, in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against BSC Young Boys. He entered the field as a 59th minute substitute for Gaizka Toquero, in an eventual 0–1 home defeat, thus becoming the youngest player ever to wear Athletic's shirt in an official game, at 16 years, 7 months and 11 days old.

One week later, Muniain scored his first goal for the club, in the return match in Switzerland. Athletic won 2–1, and qualified for the playoff rounds. In this match, he again entered the club's record books, as the youngest ever player to score a goal (16 years, 7 months and 18 days) in an official match.^[2]

On 30 August 2009, another record, as Muniain appeared (and started) in the 1–0 home win against RCD Espanyol (2009–10's opener), becoming the youngest player to have donned the club's shirt in La Liga; two weeks later, he scored again in European competition, 3–0 at home against FK Austria Wien, after a good team move involving Andoni Iraola and veteran Joseba Etxeberria.^[3]

Muniain became the youngest player to score in a first division match, as he netted in a 2–2 draw at Real Valladolid on 4 October 2009, aged only 16 years and 289 days.^[4][5]

On 1 December 2009, Muniain signed his first professional contract with Athletic, running until June 2015.^[6] On the 6th, after nearly one month out due to injury, he returned to action, scoring as a 51st minute substitute to give Athletic the lead, albeit in a 1–2 loss to Valencia CF. He set up both goals in Athletic's next game, a 2–1 away win at Real Zaragoza, and finished his first senior season with 35 official appearances, netting six goals.

Muniain was an undisputed starter for Athletic in 2010–11, featuring as a left winger for the Joaquín Caparrós-led side. On 17 April 2011, he scored a last-minute goal in a 2–1 away win against hometown club CA Osasuna, helping his team come from behind;^[7] he was initially booked for taking his hand to his ear during his celebrations - before signing for Athletic at the age of 12, he played for UDC Chantrea in Pamplona, and always considered Osasuna as a rival organisation - which meant a suspension for his fifth yellow card of the season, but it was later lifted; being able to take part in the following matchday, the derby against Real Sociedad, he netted another, in a 2–1 home success.^[8]

International career[link]

On 8 February 2011, at the age of only 18, Muniain made his debut with the under-21 team in a match against Denmark, replacing Adrián López. Subsequently, he was selected by manager Luis Milla to the squad that appeared in the 2011 UEFA European Football Championship, appearing in all the games as the national team won its third title in the category and qualified to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

On 24 February 2012, Muniain was called-up to the senior team for the first time, for a friendly with Venezuela. Five days later, he came on for Cesc Fàbregas in the 74th minute of the 5–0 win in Málaga.^[9]

Club statistics[link]

As of 8 March 2012^[10]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Athletic Bilbao

• UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2011–12

National team[link]

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2011

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: Runner-up 2010

Spain U17

• FIFA U-17 World Cup: Third place 2009

Individual[link]

• La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2010–11

References[link]

External links[link]

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Iker Muniain – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile

v t e Spain squad – 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Winners (3rd Title) 1 Miño 2 Azpilicueta 3 Domínguez 4 J. Martínez 5 San José 6 Jeffrén 7 Adrián 8 Parejo 9 Bojan 10 Mata 11 Capel 12 Montoya 13 De Gea 14 Nsue 15 José Ángel 16 Ruiz 17 Dídac 18 Herrera 19 Thiago 20 Botía 21 R. Pérez 22 Muniain 23 Mariño Coach: Milla