Martín Horacio Herrera (born 13 September 1970) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career Boca Juniors Born in Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Herrera started his senior career with Argentine giants Boca Juniors in 1991 after signing from his local club Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. During his tenure, he played understudy to the likes of Carlos Navarro Montoya; on 16 May 1993, in a reserve game against Club Atlético Independiente, a clash with an opponent resulted in head trauma, a depressed cheekbone, orbital fracture and torn ligaments, which sidelined him for nine months.Se despidió Martín Herrera, una de las mayores figuras del fútbol riocuartense en su historia (Farewell to Martín Herrera, one of the greatest symbols of Río Cuarto football); Telediario Digital, 21 April 2008
Journeyman Subsequently, Herrera joined Club Atlético Atlanta of the Primera B Metropolitana. He then had brief spells with Deportivo Toluca FC (Mexico) and Ferro Carril Oeste, leaving the latter after not being paid for several months.
Alavés On 8 July 1999, Herrera moved to the Spanish La Liga after signing a three-year contract with Deportivo Alavés for 200 million pesetas.El Alavés ficha al portero Martín Herrera (Alavés sign goalkeeper Martín Herrera); El País, 8 July 1999 Ferro transfirió a Herrera a Alavés (Ferro transferred Herrera to Alavés); La Nación, 15 July 1999 He was an undisputed starter in his first year, being awarded the Ricardo Zamora Trophy with only 37 goals conceded (all 38 matches played),"Acá se me hace más fácil" ("It is easier here") ; Olé, 7 March 2000 Martín Herrera reivindica a los porteros secundarios (Martín Herrera stakes a claim for supporting goalkeepers); El País, 22 May 2000 which was good enough to qualify to the UEFA Cup after the sixth-place finish.El Euroalavés; un campeón sin título (Euroalavés; champions without title); La Paradinha, 16 December 2015
Herrera continued to be first choice for the Basques in the following season, but was also briefly suspended by the Royal Spanish Football Federation for allegedly holding a false Italian passport.Leeds' Euro rivals in passport probe; ESPN FC, 21 March 2001 He later succeeded in proving his origins,Ivorian suspended by Spanish FA; BBC Sport, 20 April 2001 and helped his team reach the final of the UEFA Cup on 16 May 2001, a 5–4 extra time loss against Liverpool after an own golden goal.Liverpool win nine-goal epic with golden goal; UEFA, 1 September 2014
Fulham In May 2002, Herrera agreed to a three-year deal at Fulham.Fulham sign goalkeeper; BBC Sport, 30 May 2002 A backup to Edwin van der Sar and Maik Taylor, he only made his Premier League debut on 24 February 2003 in a 1–1 away draw to Tottenham Hotspur as a substitute, after Taylor was sent off.Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Fulham; Fulham FC, 24 February 2003
Herrera's second and final competitive appearanceFulham loan out duo; The World Game, July 2003 took place on 16 March 2003, when he started in the 2–2 draw against Southampton at Craven Cottage.Svensson saves day for Saints; The Guardian, 16 March 2003
Estudiantes LP Herrera returned to his country and its Primera División on 17 July 2003, being loaned to Estudiantes de La Plata.Fulham duo go on loan; BBC Sport, 17 July 2003 Initially a starter, he lost his spot to Mariano Andújar after being sent off in a 0–2 loss at Boca Juniors in September 2006,Boca Juniors 2 – Estudiantes (La Plata) 0 – Torneo Apertura 2006 (Boca Juniors 2 – Estudiantes (La Plata) 0 – 2006 Apertura Tournament); Historia de Boca, 3 September 2006 never being selected again by manager Diego Simeone before terminating his contract the following month; nonetheless, he was part of the squad that won that year's Apertura championship, defeating the same opposition in the championship playoff.Argentina 2006/07; at RSSSF
Estudiantes RC After one year out of football, the 37-year-old Herrera returned to activity with his first club Estudiantes Río Cuarto. He retired in 2009.
Honours Toluca Liga MX: 1998 Torneo Verano
Estudiantes La Plata Argentine Primera División: 2006 Apertura
Individual Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1999–2000
References
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