Quick Facts
Biography
Luis Hernández Rodríguez (born 14 April 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or central defender for Málaga CF.
Hernández joined the Real Madrid academy as a nine-year-old but never made an appearance for the senior team. He made his professional debut with Sporting Gijón in September 2012, amassing 139 appearances and scoring one goal for Los Rojiblancos across four seasons. He joined newly crowned Premier League champions Leicester City in the summer of 2016. The defender had a frustrating time at Leicester and only played nine times for the English club before returning to Spain and signing for Málaga in January 2017.
Club career
Early years
Born in Madrid, Hernández finished his formative years with hometown club Real Madrid, making his senior debuts by first representing Real Madrid C and then the B team. In August 2011, he was expected to join Belgian Pro League side K.A.A. Gent, but nothing came of it.
In January 2012, Hernández went on trial with Getafe CF B. However, he signed an 18-month deal with Sporting de Gijón instead, being assigned to the reserve side in Segunda División B. On 2 September 2012, he made his professional debut in the Segunda División, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against Racing de Santander.
Sporting Gijón
On 31 January 2013, Hernández was promoted to the Asturians' first team alongside Borja López. He finished the season as an undisputed starter, appearing in 21 matches in all competitions.
Hernández was an ever-present figure in the following campaigns, playing 38 league games in 2013–14 and 41 league games in 2014–15. He scored his first goal for the team on 24 November 2013, netting their first in a 3–1 win at CD Lugo.
Hernández made his La Liga debut on 23 August 2015, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Madrid. He made a total of 140 interceptions, more than any other player in the 2015–16 La Liga season, while Sporting barely survived relegation by a point.
Leicester City
On 21 June 2016, free agent Hernández signed for Premier League champions Leicester City on a four-year deal. He made his competitive debut on 7 August, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Danny Simpson in a 2–1 loss against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield. On 14 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, in a 3–0 group stage win at Club Brugge. Hernández ultimately struggled to break into the first team in the 2016–17 season, appearing mostly as an unused substitute. In January 2017, Spanish club Málaga CF were reported to be in advanced talks with Leicester over a possible loan deal for the player.
Málaga
After spending just six months in England with Leicester, on 24 January 2017, Hernández returned to Spain to join La Liga side Málaga on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut for the club three days later in a 1–1 draw away to Osasuna.
Career statistics
- As of match played 27 January 2017
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Real Madrid C | 2008–09 | Tercera División | 38 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 3 | ||||
| Real Madrid B | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||||
| 2010–11 | Segunda División B | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 36 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 3 | ||||||
| Sporting B | 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||||
| Sporting Gijón | 2012–13 | Segunda División | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | Segunda División | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 1 | ||||
| 2014–15 | Segunda División | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 42 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 135 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 139 | 1 | |||||
| Leicester City | 2016–17 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Málaga | 2016–17 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 225 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 234 | 7 | ||