 Hernández playing forValencia in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pablo Hernández Domínguez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-04-11)11 April 1985 (age 40)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Castellón de la Plana, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder,winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Castellón (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| AVV Rafalafena | |||
| 1997–2003 | Castellón | ||
| 2003–2004 | Valencia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2007 | Valencia B | 16 | (4) |
| 2004–2005 | →Onda (loan) | 28 | (5) |
| 2006–2007 | Valencia | 1 | (0) |
| 2007 | →Cádiz (loan) | 22 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | Getafe | 28 | (3) |
| 2008–2012 | Valencia | 111 | (16) |
| 2012–2014 | Swansea City | 57 | (5) |
| 2014–2017 | Al-Arabi | 13 | (6) |
| 2015 | →Al-Nasr (loan) | 12 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | →Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| 2016–2017 | →Leeds United (loan) | 15 | (3) |
| 2017–2021 | Leeds United | 152 | (31) |
| 2021–2023 | Castellón | 52 | (6) |
| Total | 534 | (89) | |
| International career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Spain | 4 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024–2025 | Castellón B | ||
| 2025– | Castellón | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Pablo Hernández Domínguez (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈpaβloeɾˈnandeθ]; born 11 April 1985) is a Spanish former professionalfootballer who played as anattacking midfielder orwinger. He is themanager ofSegunda División clubCastellón.
In a spell which also included two loans, he spent the early part of his career withValencia, appearing in 158 official matches and scoring 25 goals. He also competed in Wales for two years withSwansea City, and several seasons in England withLeeds United.[3]
Hernández representedSpain at the2009 Confederations Cup.
Born inCastellón de la Plana,Province of Castellón,Valencian Community,[4] Hernández was a product ofValencia's youth system (operating asstriker in theB team). He made his debut with the main squad on the last matchday of2005–06, playing 20 minutes in a 2–1 away loss againstOsasuna.[5] Midway throughthe following season, he was loaned toSegunda División sideCádiz.[6]
In July 2007, Valencia included Hernández in the transfer that broughtAlexis fromGetafe to theMestalla Stadium, but would re-buy him for€1 million in July 2008.[7] The player was subsequently signed to a six-year contract.[8]
Hernández scored his first goal for Valencia on 27 November 2008, in a 4–0 win overRosenborg in thegroup stage of theUEFA Cup, after an individual effort.[9] After havingsubbed in forRubén Baraja in the second half of a home fixture withRecreativo de Huelva, he netted his second and first in the league, in a 1–1 draw in March 2009. The following month, also as a replacement but now forJoaquín,[10] he added his third, in a 3–1 home defeat ofSevilla – deep into injury time, against ten men.[11]
On 25 April 2009, this time as a starter,[12] Hernández fired the hosts into the 2–1 lead againstBarcelona, following a run between four players and aone-two withJuan Mata; the match ended 2–2.[13] He scored the second goal in2009–10's opener, against Sevilla in a 2–0 home victory.[14] Fully established in the starting XI now over Joaquín, he continued to produce fine displays during the campaign, including a 40-meter lob to help defeatAlmería 3–0 away.[15]
Hernández scored twice againstClub Brugge inextra time of theUEFA Europa Leagueround-of-32 second leg game played at the Mestalla on 25 February 2010, for a 3–0 win (3–1 on aggregate).[16] In2010–11, he continued battling with Joaquín for first-choice status. On 7 December 2010, he netted atManchester United in theUEFA Champions League, putting his team 1–0 up athalf-time in a1–1 group stage draw.[17]
On 31 August 2012, Hernández moved toPremier League sideSwansea City for three years and a fee of£5.55 million.[18] He scored his first official goal on 20 October, helping to a 2–1 home victory overWigan Athletic.[19]
Hernández scored his second goal for the Swans on 3 November 2012, a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw againstChelsea at theLiberty Stadium.[20] He was named to the team of the week published on 3 September bySky Sports,[21] and started inthe final of theFootball League Cup on 24 February 2013, helping to a5–0 rout ofBradford City.[22]
On 15 July 2014, Hernández joinedAl-Arabi on a three-year deal, having started talks with the Qatari club the previous week. The fee was unknown, but it was speculated that the fee would be lower than the amount paid by Swansea to Valencia for his services two years before.[23]
Hernández returned to Spain and its top tier on 31 August 2015 after a loan spell atAl-Nasr, agreeing to a one-year loan deal withRayo Vallecano.[24] He started regularly for the team from theMadrid outskirts, who endedthe campaign with relegation.
On 2 August 2016, Hernández signed withChampionship clubLeeds United on a six-month loan deal, with the option of a permanent move in January 2017, linking up with former Swansea managerGarry Monk[25] and being given the number 19 shirt.[26] After the former failed to receive his paperwork in time from theQatar Football Association for the opening fixture againstQueens Park Rangers (which ended in a 3–0 defeat),[27] he made his debut on 10 August in a 3–2 win atFleetwood Town in theEFL Cup.[28]
Hernández's league debut for Leeds came in a 1–2 home loss toBirmingham City, on 13 August 2016.[29] On 17 September he scored his first goal, with a curling effort in a 2–0 victory overCardiff City.[30] On 5 November, he picked up ahamstring injury late on in a 3–2 win againstNorwich City atCarrow Road,[31] returning to action after almost two months;[32] he celebrated his return on 26 December with a goal after replacingHadi Sacko, helping defeat hostsPreston North End 4–1.[33]
Hernández signed a permanent six-month contract on 9 January 2017, with the option to extend the link by 12 months at the end ofthe season.[34][35] He appeared in his first match after the new agreement four days later, helping the side climb to third in the table after beatingDerby County 1–0 at home and being namedPlayer of the match in the process.[36]
On 17 May 2017, the 32-year-old Hernández agreed to a new one-year deal.[37] On 16 April 2018, he was nominated as one of four players for the Leeds Player of The Year award.[38] Ten days later, he ended speculation about his future (with his contract close to expiry) by signing a new two-year extension until June 2020,[39] and on 5 May, he won both its Player of the Year and Players Player Of The Year awards at the annual ceremony.[40]
On 25 August 2018, after Hernández had scored his third goal in five league games, managerMarcelo Bielsa hailed him as "a complete player from every point of view", adding that he had only rarely in his career seen a wide player exert such influence over the whole pitch.[41] On 5 September, he won theProfessional Footballers' Association Championship Player Of The Month award for August.[42]
After helping Leeds to a third-place finish in the2018–19 campaign, Hernández was voted into thePFA Team of the Year on 24 April.[43][44] Four days later, he again won his team's Player of the Year and Players Player Of The Year awards.[45]
On 19 November 2019, Hernández put pen to paper to an extension until 2022.[46] His two crucial match-winning goals at home in early 2020 againstMillwall[47] andReading were key to maintaining sustained pressure onWest Bromwich Albion at the top of the table.[48] He finished with nine for the eventual champions by the end ofthe season,[49] in a return to the Premier League after 16 years.[50]
On 21 May 2021, the club announced that Hernández would leave on 30 June alongsideGaetano Berardi.[51]
Hernández returned to Spain after five years on 20 July 2021, joining hometown clubCastellón who had beenrecently relegated to the newly createdPrimera División RFEF; a three-year contract was signed.[52]
In July 2023, Hernández retired aged 38.[53]
After close observation bySpain national team managerLuis Aragonés during his time at Getafe, Hernández was picked for the 32-man provisional squad forUEFA Euro 2008, but did not make the final cut. On 5 June 2009, he was called to represent the country at the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa as a replacement for injuredAndrés Iniesta, by new bossVicente del Bosque.[54] He earned his firstcap on the 20th, coming on as a substitute for club teammateDavid Villa in the 60th minute of the last group stage match, a 2–0 defeat ofthe hosts.[55]
Hernández scored his only international goal on 18 November 2009, playing the entire second half of the 5–1friendly win inAustria and closing the scoresheet.[56]
In 2016, theYorkshire Evening Post described Hernández as the "most creative player in the Championship," due largely to his runs behind the defence, skill at picking out dangerous passes in open play and aptitude at taking corners and otherfree kicks.[57]
On 5 June 2024, after one year acting as an ambassador of Castellón, Hernández was appointed head coach ofthe reserves in theTercera Federación.[58] In hisfirst season in charge, he led the side to a first-ever promotion toSegunda Federación.[59]
On 16 September 2025, Hernández was namedcaretaker manager of the first team, replacing the sackedJohan Plat.[60] On his debut as a professional four days later, he oversaw a 3–1 away win overCultural y Deportiva Leonesa, their first ofthe campaign.[61] On 12 November, he was confirmed in the position until June 2026.[62]
In June 2017, Hernández became co-owner of Spanish club Castellón (alongside former Valencia teammateÁngel Dealbert and others), where he had started playing 20 years ago.[63] Under hisfirst season of ownership, it won promotion fromTercera División;[64][65] they both left due to disagreements regarding the team in April 2019, but kept their position as shareholders.[66]
Hernández' wife, Mar García, is the sister ofprofessional golferSergio García, who competes on both thePGA Tour and thePGA European Tour.[64]
He has two sons, Eric and Luca. He is often seen kissing his arms after scoring a goal, where he has tattoos ofThe Virgin Mary and his sons’ names.[67]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valencia | 2005–06 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Valencia B | 2006–07 | Segunda División B | 16 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 4 | ||||
| Cádiz (loan) | 2006–07 | Segunda División | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 4 | |||
| Getafe | 2007–08 | La Liga | 28 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | 9[a] | 4 | — | 43 | 8 | ||
| Valencia | 2008–09 | La Liga | 21 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 6[a] | 1 | — | 31 | 5 | ||
| 2009–10 | La Liga | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 11[a] | 3 | — | 44 | 8 | |||
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 2 | — | 35 | 7 | |||
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 30 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | 10[a] | 2 | — | 45 | 5 | |||
| Total | 111 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 25 | ||
| Swansea City | 2012–13[70] | Premier League | 30 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14[70] | Premier League | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[a] | 0 | — | 35 | 2 | ||
| Total | 57 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 5 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 2015–16 | La Liga | 27 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 3 | ||
| Leeds United | 2016–17 | Championship | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 6 | |
| 2017–18 | Championship | 41 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 43 | 9 | ||
| 2018–19 | Championship | 39 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 41 | 12 | |
| 2019–20 | Championship | 36 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 9 | ||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| Total | 167 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 175 | 36 | ||
| Castellón | 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4[d] | 0 | 30 | 3 | |||
| Total | 52 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 481 | 75 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 48 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 570 | 91 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2009 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 November 2009 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna |  Austria | 5–1 | 5–1 | Friendly[56] |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Castellón B |  | 5 June 2024 | 16 September 2025 | 36 | 19 | 4 | 13 | 79 | 62 | +17 | 052.78 | [72] |
| Castellón | | 16 September 2025 | Present | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 054.55 | [73] |
| Career total | 47 | 25 | 6 | 16 | 96 | 73 | +23 | 053.19 | — | |||
Getafe
Swansea City
Leeds United
Al-Nasr
Spain
Individual
