Like Leeds United icon Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds hero Pablo Hernandez is now a manager, albeit in caretaker charge of Castellon.
Pablo Hernandez played more games for Leeds United than with any other club, which includes Valencia. However, his heart truly lies with Castellon, where he has part-owned the club previously.
In June 2017, Hernandez became co-owner of Spanish club, alongside former Valencia teammate Angel Dealbert and others. However, they both left due to disagreements regarding the team in April 2019, but kept their position as shareholders.
Now, his involvement is far more serious, given he is in charge of the first-team. If he’s anything like what he was as a player, he could be an excellent manager. He also learnt from one of the best, too.
Pablo Hernandez’s view of Marcelo Bielsa’s impact
He may well have joined in 2016 at the age of 31 but Hernandez later became the brains and magic of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side during two excellent campaigns in the second tier.
Hernandez has admitted his best form was with Bielsa’s Leeds, with the Argentine taking charge of Hernandez from 2018-2021. In a more recent interview, Hernandez outlined what happened with Bielsa when leaving Leeds.
But ‘El Mago’ will rightly be remembered by Leeds fans forever for what he achieved. Now, Hernandez is in interim charge of Castellon. Not only that, but their caretaker boss has been a breath of fresh air.
With Hernandez having won all three Castellon games so far, he has been asked about his relationship with Bielsa. He spoke via Cadena SER, and said: “The person who had the biggest impact on me is Marcelo Bielsa.
“They were the best years of my career. I learned things I hadn’t realised before in my career. He gave us some rubbish bags and told us to clean up the entire training ground.
“When we finished, we went back to the video room, and he explained why he had made us do it: to make us appreciate all the people who support us and work behind the scenes.
“The effort they put in to afford a ticket and watch our games. I haven’t done it myself yet, but those are life lessons that make you stop and think.”
On training drills taken from Bielsa, he added: “They’re drills we do in training, and Bielsa used to tell us they could be perfectly applied to matches on the pitch. They’re drills that, at first glance, make you wonder what they’re for.
“But then you realise everything has a purpose. They translate perfectly to Sundays”
Bielsa may well be influencing his managerial career, but Hernandez will take inspiration from Carlos Corberan as well — per other recent comments on the now Valencia boss.
Hernandez’s favourite Leeds United moment
Such has been his start with Castellon, Leeds fans all want Hernandez as manager eventually. The Spaniard clearly has a lot of love for Leeds and Elland Road, which is why it’s not impossible he will do so one day.
He was the key to that fabulous promotion in 2020, but Hernandez also sent Leeds a congratulatory message following promotion this year as well.
Now 40, Hernandez admitted he gets goosebumps over Leeds’ win at Swansea City to this day, which was one of the most famous moments in the Whites’ recent history. He said: “I understood why they call it the sleeping giant: a huge club and a ferocious fanbase.
“We connected from day one. I had two of my best years with Marcelo Bielsa: he was extremely demanding, especially mentally, but he improves you. We achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
“My goal against Swansea in the 89th minute was key, and it still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. We celebrated promotion by looking at the fans from behind the windows due to the restrictions.”
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