Manuel Herrera Yagüe (born 29 September 1981) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career Born in Madrid, Herrera joined Real Madrid's youth setup in 1995, aged 13, and made his senior debut with the C team in 2000–01, in Tercera División. He was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División B the following year, but failed to make an appearance during the season.¿Qué fue de Manu Herrera? (What happened to Manu Herrera?); Vavel, 9 March 2019 (in Spanish)
After a brief period with amateurs UD Casetas, Herrera joined Palamós CF in the third division. In June 2004 he moved to Atlético Levante UD in the same league, and served as third choice for the main squad in 2006–07 behind José Francisco Molina and Pablo Cavallero.El Eibar refuerza su portería con Manu Herrera, del Levante B (Eibar bolster goal with Manu Herrera, from Levante B); El Correo, 9 August 2007 (in Spanish)
On 8 August 2007, Herrera was loaned to Segunda División club SD Eibar.Manu Herrera jugará en el Eibar la próxima temporada (Manu Herrera will play in Eibar next season); Marca, 8 August 2007 (in Spanish) His first game as a professional occurred on 10 October, in a 2–1 away loss against Elche CF in the third round of the Copa del Rey.El Elche elimina al Eibar en la prórroga (Elche oust Eibar in extra time); Marca, 10 October 2007 (in Spanish) His maiden appearance in the league came late in the same month, a 2–2 home draw with UD Salamanca.Eibar y Salamanca se reparten los puntos en un duelo con alternativas (Eibar and Salamanca share points in duel of alternatives); Marca, 28 October 2007 (in Spanish)
In summer 2008, Herrera returned to the Valencian side, now in division two. Initially a backup to Manolo Reina, he enjoyed a run in the starting XI from November 2009 until March of the following year, and also achieved promotion.Manu Herrera vuelve a estar disponible para Luis García (Manu Herrera again available for Luis García); Super Deporte, 21 April 2010 (in Spanish)Reencuentros en Orriols (They meet again at Orriols); Vavel, 13 December 2013 (in Spanish)
Herrera joined AD Alcorcón also of the second tier on 23 July 2010.El Alcorcón ficha a Manu Herrera para suplir la baja de Juanma (Alcorcón sign Manu Herrera to make up for loss of Juanma); Marca, 23 July 2010 (in Spanish) After two years as a starter (playing all league matches in the second), he moved to Elche in June 2012.Manu Herrera blinda la portería del Elche (Manu Herrera shields Elche goal); Diario AS, 29 June 2012 (in Spanish)
Herrera won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in his debut season with the Franjiverdes,Manu Herrera Vs Dani Mallo; Duelo de Zamoras (Manu Herrera Vs Dani Mallo; Duel of Zamoras); Vamos Elche, 26 April 2013 (in Spanish) who won the league and returned to La Liga after 24 years. On 19 August 2013, one month shy of his 32nd birthday, he made his debut in the competition, starting in the 3–0 away defeat to Rayo Vallecano.Rayo up and running ; ESPN FC, 19 August 2013
On 13 July 2015, Herrera signed a two-year deal with Real Zaragoza after his contract with Elche expired.Manu Herrera defenderá la portería del Real Zaragoza (Manu Herrera will defend Real Zaragoza's goal); Real Zaragoza, 13 July 2015 (in Spanish) On 1 August of the following year he cut ties with the former team,Rescisión del contrato entre el Real Zaragoza y el futbolista Manu Herrera (Contract termination between Real Zaragoza and footballer Manu Herrera); Real Zaragoza, 1 August 2016 (in Spanish) and joined Real Betis the following day.Manu Herrera, nuevo portero del Real Betis (Manu Herrera, new goalkeeper of Real Betis); Real Betis, 2 August 2016 (in Spanish)
On 3 August 2017, Herrera agreed to a one-year contract at CA Osasuna.Manu Herrera, nuevo portero de Osasuna (Manu Herrera, new goalkeeper of Osasuna); CA Osasuna, 3 August 2017 (in Spanish) In January 2019, after six competitive appearances at the El Sadar Stadium, the free agent returned to the lower leagues with CD Atlético Baleares.Manu Herrera, nuevo portero del Atlético Baleares (Manu Herrera, new Atlético Baleares goalkeeper); Última Hora, 18 January 2019 (in Spanish)
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPalamós2003–04Segunda División B310——310Levante B2004–05Segunda División B350——3502005–06Segunda División B240—102502006–07Segunda División B210——210Total800—10810Levante2005–06Segunda División0000—002008–09Segunda División4000—402009–10Segunda División20010—210Total24010—240Eibar (loan)2007–08Segunda División4010—50Alcorcón2010–11Segunda División34000—3402011–12Segunda División4200040460Total7600040800Elche2012–13Segunda División39000—3902013–14La Liga30000—3002014–15La Liga7010—80Total76010—770Zaragoza2015–16Segunda División23010—240Betis2016–17La Liga0000—00Osasuna2017–18Segunda División4020—60Atlético Baleares2018–19Segunda División B10—00102019–20Segunda División B1900020210Total2000020220Intercity2020–21Tercera División240—302702021–22Segunda División RFEF330——3302022–23Primera Federación28000—2802023–24Primera Federación120——120Total97000301000Career total4350501004500
Honours Elche Segunda División: 2012–13El Elche, campeón de Segunda (Elche, Segunda champions); Marca, 26 May 2013 (in Spanish)
Individual Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 2012–13Fran Escribá y Manu Herrera, premiados por "MARCA" (Fran Escribá and Manu Herrera, awarded by "MARCA"); Elche CF, 2 December 2013 (in Spanish)
References
External links