Leeds United legend has turned his boyhood club around with 100% win record on managerial debut

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Leeds United have had plenty of legendary figures over the years, from the cup-winning sides of the 60s and 70s, to the modern-day stars who are helping to keep the future of the club bright.

There haven’t always been easy moments during the more recent periods of history, but there have still been some great players.

Among those is one Leeds legend who retired back in 2023 and has since taken his first steps into management.

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Leeds United legend Pablo Hernandez enjoys winning start as CD Castellon manager

Pablo Hernandez is a modern Leeds legend, helping bring some quality to the forward ranks after joining in 2017.

In a four-year stay at Elland Road, the Spaniard helped the side earn promotion back to the Premier League and played an important role in stabilising the team there.

Hernandez then left in 2021 to rejoin his boyhood club, CD Castellon.

The forward retired in 2023 and has since taken a position in the club’s reserve side, as he began his journey in coaching.

However, with the sacking of Johan Plat in September, the search for a new manager saw them land on Hernandez as their caretaker.

So far, the 40-year-old has coached them to three wins in La Liga 2, their only triumphs of the campaign so far.

That 100% start in the league has certainly helped Castellon transform their fortunes early on in the season, despite it being his first taste of management.

It remains to be seen whether he will take up a permanent role with the club as their manager or not, but he is certainly making a case to.

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Marcelo Bielsa wanted Pablo Hernandez to stay at Leeds United

While Hernandez left Leeds four years ago, the story could’ve been very different.

The Spaniard revealed that Marcelo Bielsa actually wanted him to stay at the club in 2021, rather than making his eventual exit.

He told El Periodico Mediterraneo earlier this season: “I would have stayed in Leeds for my last year, but I would only leave for one reason, to return home.

“I spoke with Víctor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani, and they made my departure very easy. Bielsa told me I could stay, but I’d already made my decision.”

Things may have been very different had Hernandez stayed at Leeds, but in the end, he clearly wanted his return to Castellon.

Now, as their caretaker manager, it remains to be seen exactly what he can do; however, there is no doubt that he will cross paths with Leeds again in the future.