It’s nine years to the day since Pablo Hernandez signed for Leeds United, with the club legend departing in the summer of 2021.
The last time Leeds United were promoted, Pablo Hernandez was a part of the side. They will certainly want a player of his talents this summer, with more creativity and output needed in their forward line.
Season Appearances Goals Assists
2016/17 – Championship 38 6 8
2017/18 – Championship 43 9 10
2018/19 – Championship 41 12 12
2019/20 – Championship 36 9 9
2020/21 – Premier League 17 0 2
Pablo Hernandez’s Leeds United seasons
He joined in 2016 but Hernandez later became the heartbeat and magic of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side, often delivering in the most crucial of moments in the Championship.
His skill and invention were a huge differential in tight games, with Hernandez able to make something out of nothing with Leeds, especially during the 2020 run-in, and many of his goals and assists proved to be match-winners as well.
Hernandez has previously admitted that his best career form came with Leeds, specifically under the tutelage of Bielsa. However, other coaches also impressed the Spaniard during his five seasons at Leeds.
Leeds United v Middlesbrough - Sky Bet Championship
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Leeds legend Pablo Hernandez praises Carlos Corberan
Prior to his current role with Valencia and his former roles with the likes of West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield, Carlos Corberan spent three years with Leeds’ then U-23 team. Two of those years were spent in Bielsa’s inner circle as one of the assistants.
Of course, he is now in La Liga with Hernandez’s former team. They have reconnected recently, with Hernandez visiting his former coach. Speaking to Valencia’s social media team, he explained his thoughts on Corberan.
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Hernandez said: “I know him, I spent several years with him at Leeds. I was in his office earlier for a chat. I’m really happy for him on a personal level, because I know him and I spent time with him at Leeds.
“I’m pleased that it’s going so well for him and that he’s come here to Valencia CF. And, last season, he was able to turn the situation around.
“He showed that he’s very much up to the task of coaching this team. I know his work-rate and I know how hard he worked when I was with him.
“Now, as a coach, he’s showing that he knows a lot about football and that he’s a born hard worker. He spends a lot of hours on this and you’re seeing that with the results.
“I’m used to having conversations about football with coaches when I was a player. We had a little chat, coach-to-coach about how I feel and whether I like this new role.
“We talked about whether it was easier to be a player or coach. We had a chat about that. Many players make the move into coaching when we retire, staying in football in this new role in the dugout.
“I’m happy with how my first year went and happy to be at Castellon, my home. Being at the club from your home city is something nice for me.
“I’m looking forward to the season starting to see how it goes.”
Daniel Farke during Leeds United's friendly against Man United.
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Leeds’ need for a No.10 is more apparent this summer
A true playmaker who can be a difference-maker and match-winner in the final third is paramount. A player of Hernandez’s quality and calibre would be the ideal player for Daniel Farke’s attacking unit right now.
With the German needing to strike a new balance in the Premier League, having someone who scored 36 and assisted a further 41 goals for Leeds in 175 games would be extremely useful.
Although that included 72 of those goal contributions at Championship level from 153 appearances. They still haven’t found a replacement for him after all these years.
If Leeds needed a solution or for someone to pick a lock, Hernandez was often the answer. He was a man of class and character, as exemplified by his goal return but also in Hernandez sending Leeds a congratulatory message following promotion.
Who knows, the two may well cross paths again one day? With Hernandez perhaps returning to West Yorkshire in a coaching capacity instead?