Pablo Hernandez came within minutes of guiding Castellon to La Liga on Monday, only for Almeria to snatch promotion away, leaving the Leeds United legend suffering play-off heartbreak.
Castellon looked set to complete an extraordinary achievement as they led deep into Monday night’s La Liga 2 play-off final, putting Hernandez within touching distance of promotion to Spain’s top flight.
Pablo Hernandez addresses a potential ‘dream’ Leeds United return
“Obviously, the clubs [Valencia and Leeds] that are so important to me would be a dream, but it is not something I am considering at the moment.
“First, I want to learn a lot, I have a lot to learn, see if this is what really fulfils me and what I like, and in the future, we will see that it holds.”
Pablo Hernandez
But the game turned late on as Almeria found an equaliser before an injury-time winner completed a dramatic comeback, leaving Hernandez and his players devastated after coming so close to promotion.
Why Pablo Hernandez remains a Leeds United legend
Leeds fans will know better than most how influential Hernandez can be when the stakes are highest. Signed by Garry Monk in 2016, the Spaniard became one of the defining figures under Marcelo Bielsa.
His most iconic moment arrived when he scored the winner against Swansea City in July 2020, a goal that moved Leeds to the brink of ending their 16-year wait for Premier League football.
By the time he left Elland Road, Hernandez had amassed 175 appearances and 36 goals for Leeds, while also contributing 41 assists. It underlines why El Mago is one of the club’s most loved modern players.
The near miss will have hurt Hernandez even more because Castellon is not just another club. It is his academy side and a club in which he previously held a stake before stepping into management.
After returning to help the club off the pitch, Hernandez eventually took charge of Castellon and quickly set about transforming their fortunes during his first senior managerial role.
The numbers show a remarkable first season for Hernandez
While promotion ultimately slipped away, the campaign should still be viewed as a major success. Under Hernandez, Castellon collected 43 points from a possible 60, propelling them into promotion contention.
Would you like to see Pablo Hernandez return to Elland Road as manager one day? 🧙♂️
El Mago has opened up on the ongoing influence of El Loco, Marcelo Biel
I’ve been lucky enough to have had some truly great coaches, and if I had to pick one who has influenced me the most, it would be Bielsa.
He’s a top coach who gets the absolute best out of his teams and players. There are many things I’ve learned from him.When he arrived at Leeds, I was already in the final stages of my career and thought I knew everything there was to know about football, and he helped me take that extra step.
Pablo Hernandez speaking to Marca
Many of the things I see in football now I’ve picked up from him.
He also produced a record of 18 wins, eight draws and eight defeats in his first 34 matches, helping turn Castellon into genuine promotion challengers. Spanish media described Hernandez as “a dream”.
Monday night’s defeat will sting for some time, but it should not overshadow what Hernandez has already achieved with his beloved Spanish side. Next season, he will be aiming for more.
The qualities that made him a Leeds United legend are now becoming evident in the dugout, and despite the heartbreak of missing out on La Liga, he has emerged from the season with his reputation enhanced.
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