Pablo Hernández (footballer, born 1985)

Pablo Hernández Domínguez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpaβlo erˈnandeθ]; born 11 April 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Leeds United as a winger but also as an attacking midfielder.
In a spell which also included two loans, he played the early part of his career with Valencia, appearing in 173 official games and scoring 25 goals. He also competed two years in Wales, with Swansea City.
Hernández represented Spain at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Valencia

Born in Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Valencian Community, Hernández was a product of Valencia's youth system (operating as striker in the B-team). He made his debuts with the main squad on the last matchday of 2005–06, playing 20 minutes in a 1–2 away loss against Osasuna. Midway through the following season, he was loaned to Segunda División side Cádiz.

In July 2007, Valencia included Hernández in the transfer that brought Alexis from Getafe to the Mestalla Stadium, but would re-buy him for €1 million in July 2008, The player was subsequently signed the player to a six-year contract.

Hernández scored his first goal for Valencia on 27 November 2008, in a 4–0 win over Rosenborg for the campaign's UEFA Cup, after an individual effort. After having subbed in for Rubén Baraja in the second half of a home fixture against Recreativo, he netted his second goal and first in the league, in a 1–1 draw in March 2009; the following month, also as a replacement but now for Joaquín, he added his third, in a 3–1 home win over Sevilla – deep into injury time, against ten men.

On 25 April 2009, this time as a starter, Hernández fired the hosts into the 2–1 lead against Barcelona, following a run between four players and a one-two with Juan Mata. The match ended 2–2.

Hernández scored the second goal in 2009–10's opener, against Sevilla in a 2–0 home triumph. Fully established in the starting XI now over Joaquín, he continued to produce fine displays in this season, including a 40-meter lob against Almería in a 3–0 away success.

Hernández scored twice against Club Brugge in extra time of the UEFA Europa League round-of-32 second leg game played at the Mestalla on 25 February 2010, for a 3–0 win (3–1 on aggregate). In the 2010–11 season, he continued battling with Joaquín for first-choice status; on 7 December 2010, he netted at Old Trafford against Manchester United for the UEFA Champions League, putting the Che 1–0 up at half-time in an eventual 1–1 group stage draw.

Swansea City

Hernández moved to Premier League side Swansea City on 31 August 2012, for three years and a club-record fee of £5.55 million. He scored his first official goal against Wigan Athletic on 20 October, helping to a 2–1 home win.

Hernández netted his second goal for the Swans on 3 November, scoring a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium. He was named to the team of the week published on 3 September by Sky Sports, and started in the final of the Football League Cup on 24 February 2013, helping to a 5–0 routing of Bradford City.

Al-Arabi

On 15 July 2014, Hernández joined Al-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.

After a loan spell at Al-Nasr Dubai, Hernández returned to Spain and its top level on 31 August 2015, after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Rayo Vallecano. He started regularly for the team from the Madrid outskirts, who ended the campaign with relegation.

Leeds United

On 2 August 2016, Hernández joined Championship club Leeds United on a six-month loan deal, with the option of a permanent move in January 2017, linking up with former Swansea manager Garry Monk and being given the number 19 shirt. After the former failed to receive his paperwork in time from the Qatar Football Association for the opening fixture against Queens Park Rangers (which ended in a 3–0 defeat), he made his debut on 10 August in a 3–2 win at Fleetwood Town for the EFL Cup.

Hernández's league debut for Leeds came in a 1–2 home loss to Birmingham City, on 13 August 2016. On 17 September he scored his first goal, with a curling effort in a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City; on 5 November, he picked up a hamstring injury late on in a 3–2 win against Norwich City at Carrow Road, returning to action after almost two months. He celebrated his return on 26 December with a goal after replacing Hadi Sacko, helping to a 4–1 triumph at Preston North End.

On 9 January 2017, Hernández signed a permanent six-month contract for Leeds, with the club having the option to extend the contact by 12 months at the end of the season. He appeared in his first match after the new agreement four days later, helping his team climb to third in the table after defeating Derby County 1–0 at home and being named Man of the match in the process.

After close observation by Spain national team manager Luis Aragonés during his time at Getafe, Hernández was picked for the 32-man provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2008, but did not make the final cut. On 5 June 2009, he was called to represent the country at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, as a replacement for injured Andrés Iniesta, by new boss Vicente del Bosque; he gained his first cap on the 20th, coming on as a substitute for club teammate David Villa in the 60th minute of the last group stage match, a 2–0 success against the hosts.

Hernández scored his first international goal on 18 November 2009, playing the entire second half of the 5–1 friendly win in Austria and closing the scoresheet.

International goals

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	18 November 2009	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna	Austria	5–1	5–1	Friendly

The Yorkshire 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 other free kicks.

As of 3 May 2014

Club

Getafe

• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2007–08

Swansea City

• Football League Cup: 2012–13

Country

• FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009