Pablo Hernandez, fondly known as 'El Mago' by fans across the globe because of his magic touch, announced his retirement on Friday afternoon.
If there is one thing we can thank Garry Monk for it is bringing Pablo Hernandez into our lives. Cast aside at Al-Arabi in Qatar, the move to Elland Road rejuvenated Hernandez and rejuvenated Leeds United. A rare shining star in those Monk, Christianson and Heckingbottom teams it was the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United that really brought out the best in ‘El Mago’. His best years behind him perhaps, but there was no questioning his ability. On his day still one of the best players in the Championship, our heartbeat, our talisman who often pulled something special out of the bag, created a chance out of nothing, scored a wonder goal.
Wherever Pablo played his influence on the team was clear, Leeds just weren’t as creative without him on the pitch. As much as our promotion to the Premier League and the season before had been a Bielsa revolution, it’s hard to see how that revolution could have been so successful without the magician that is Pablo Hernandez. Injuries meant his playing time was limited towards the end of his time at the club, but those 45 minutes a game in our promotion season drove us onto the title and back to the Premier League for the first time in sixteen years. A move back to Spain seemed inevitable, but with it Castellón became a Mecca where Leeds fans pilgrimaged to worship a truly magical footballer.
Pablo may now have hung up his boots but we will always have that goal against West Brom, that defining goal against Swansea and many more moments to remember him by. As one of the most talismanic figures in Leeds United’s recent history departs the game a legend is born. His name will go down in history alongside those of Strachan and Bremner, his place cemented in Leeds United folk law as one of the most important and influential players to pull on the white shirt. I only wish we had a player like him for our next promotion push.
Farewell El Mago, and thank you!
