Not long ago, Ander Herrera was competing in front of a thunderous crowd at La Bombonera, playing for Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores. Now, the 37-year-old midfielder finds himself preparing for a very different stage: a Spanish third-tier fixture against regional side Gimnastic de Tarragona, watched by around 6,500 supporters. Yet for Herrera, this modest return marks one of the most meaningful moments of his career.
The Spaniard has rejoined boyhood club Real Zaragoza on a free transfer, 15 years after departing the academy that launched his professional journey. In the years since, Herrera built an impressive résumé, featuring spells at Athletic Club, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Boca Juniors. Along the way, he collected major honors including the Europa League and FA Cup, played under managers such as Jose Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel and Marcelo Bielsa, and lined up alongside stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Wayne Rooney.
Despite that pedigree, Herrera says nothing compares to coming back to Zaragoza. "This is probably the last dream that I wanted to make come true," he told BBC Sport. "To come back home, to the place where I grew up, that gave me the opportunity to be professional - not only in football, also as a human being."
Zaragoza's fortunes have fallen dramatically since Herrera left in 2011. Once celebrated for stunning Arsenal in the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup final, the club was relegated from La Liga in 2012-13 and has spent over a decade sliding through Spanish football's divisions, now competing in the third tier. Herrera admits the club's decline has been painful to watch from afar. "Real Zaragoza belong to Europe, they belong to compete for trophies, to be fighting with the biggest clubs in Spain and in Europe," he said, adding that he wants to contribute his experience and passion to help restore the club to where he believes it belongs.
Rather than dwelling on the past, Herrera is urging positivity within the squad. "Let's stop crying about what happened in the past. Let's build on the future. Let's come every day to training with a smile," he said.
In a striking gesture given the club's financial struggles, Herrera has chosen to donate his salary to Zaragoza's foundation rather than sign a paid contract. "I don't need a contract. I have a very successful career. I have taken care of my money," he explained. "I can give this present to myself... because I wanted to help my club, my team, my city."
Herrera's connection to Zaragoza runs deep. He grew up idolizing the club's players, inspired partly by his father Pedro, a former Zaragoza player who later became the club's general manager. Herrera recalls watching the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup triumph over Arsenal from home, a memory that still resonates given the stark contrast between the two clubs today.
Looking beyond his playing days, Herrera envisions staying involved in football, potentially working with young players. "I like to see the development and the process and I like to help them to avoid some mistakes that I have probably made," he said, while acknowledging uncertainty about whether coaching is his eventual path.
He also reflected on the influence of social media on younger generations of footballers, cautioning against rushing development. "Just because he's doing it faster than you, it doesn't mean that he's going to be a better player than you," Herrera said. "Social media is making us live too fast in every aspect of society."
Should he pursue coaching, Herrera has no shortage of inspiration from fellow Basque-born managers currently working in the Premier League, including Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola. For now, though, his focus remains firmly on Zaragoza's revival. "I am so proud and I feel so privileged to do every single step that I have made in my career," he said. "Hopefully I can end up successful at home."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.