Pablo Hernández’s Bielsa-inspired rise could put Leeds reunion on the agenda

Pablo Hernández is rapidly building his reputation as a manager in Spain, and his early success with Castellón will inevitably interest Leeds United supporters.

The former Leeds favourite has guided Castellón to the top of the Segunda División after seven matches, winning six and drawing one while scoring 14 goals and conceding only twice.

More interestingly for Leeds fans, Marcelo Bielsa has reportedly had a significant influence on the football Hernández is now producing as a coach.

Hernández retired from playing three years ago at 38 after finishing his career with hometown club Castellón.

His transition into coaching has been remarkably quick.

After guiding Castellón's B team to a league title and promotion, Hernández was handed caretaker responsibility for the senior side last September.

He subsequently oversaw a major improvement, taking the club away from trouble and into the promotion play-offs.

This season has brought another significant step forward.

Castellón currently lead LaLiga HyperMotion after an unbeaten opening seven matches, with their defensive record particularly impressive alongside an attack averaging two goals per game.

Marca has spoken to people close to Hernández to establish the influences behind his managerial philosophy.

Two coaches stand out: Bielsa and Michael Laudrup.

Hernández worked under Bielsa during his memorable spell at Leeds and played for Laudrup at Swansea City.

According to Marca, both have become a “source of inspiration” for Hernández.

“He only sees football as a show, to have fun,” one source told the Spanish newspaper.

Rather than simply copying either manager, Hernández appears to have combined aspects of both philosophies.

His Castellón team are described as playing football that is joyful, direct and attack-minded.

Hernández does not want his team defending deep in a low block. His preference is to attack, progress the ball forward and entertain while retaining enough positional structure to avoid becoming chaotic.

The results suggest that philosophy is working.

Any discussion about Hernández returning to Elland Road as manager remains hypothetical.

There is no suggestion Leeds are currently considering him, while Daniel Farke is doing well in the job.

But Hernández's connection with the club makes his managerial development particularly interesting.

He became one of the defining players of Leeds' journey back to the Premier League and worked closely with Bielsa during that period.

If he can now guide Castellón back to La Liga for the first time since 1991, his coaching reputation will inevitably grow considerably.

A future Leeds reunion cannot be predicted from what is happening today. What can be said is that Hernández is building the kind of managerial CV that could eventually make such a conversation realistic rather than purely nostalgic.

Hernández's immediate challenge is turning Castellón's outstanding start into a sustained promotion challenge.

Taking his hometown club back into La Liga would represent a major achievement for a manager still at the beginning of his coaching career.

For Leeds supporters, there is an obvious reason to keep watching. Hernández is no longer simply a beloved former player learning the managerial trade – he is starting to produce results while carrying some of Bielsa's footballing principles with him.