Luis Hernández (footballer, born 1989)

Luis Hernández Rodríguez (born 14 April 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Cádiz.

Luis Hernández
Hernández warming up for Sporting Gijón in 2014
Personal information
Full nameLuis Hernández Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth (1989-04-14) 14 April 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birthMadrid, Spain
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Cádiz
Number23
Youth career
1998–2007Real Madrid
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007–2009Real Madrid C38(3)
2009–2011Real Madrid B36(3)
2012Sporting Gijón B11(0)
2012–2016Sporting Gijón135(1)
2016–2017Leicester City4(0)
2017–2020Málaga110(2)
2020–2022Maccabi Tel Aviv45(2)
2022–Cádiz60(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:31, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

He 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 de Gijón in 2012, playing 139 competitive matches and scoring one goal across four seasons. He then signed with Premier League club Leicester City, playing nine games before moving to Málaga in January 2017. In 2020 he joined Maccabi Tel Aviv and, two years later, returned to his country with Cádiz.

Over six seasons in La Liga, Hernández totalled 151 appearances and two goals.

Club career

Early years

Born in Madrid, Hernández finished his formative years with hometown club Real Madrid, making his senior debuts by first representing the C and then the B team. In August 2011, he was expected to join Belgian Pro League side Gent but nothing came of it.[3]

Sporting Gijón

Hernández playing for Sporting Gijón in 2014

In January 2012, Hernández went on trial with Getafe B. However, he signed an 18-month deal with Sporting de Gijón instead, being assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B.[4] 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.[5]

On 31 January 2013, Hernández was promoted to the Asturians' first team alongside Borja López.[6] 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 in 2014–15. He scored his first goal for the team on 24 November 2013, netting their first in a 3–1 win at Lugo.[7]

On 23 August 2015, Hernández made his La Liga debut, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Madrid.[8] He made a total of 140 interceptions, more than any other player during the season, while Sporting barely survived relegation by a point.[9]

Leicester City

Hernández with Leicester City in August 2016

On 21 June 2016, Hernández signed for Premier League champions Leicester City in a free transfer on a four-year deal.[10] 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.[11] His first appearance in the UEFA Champions League took place on 14 September, in a 3–0 group stage win at Club Brugge.[12]

Hernández ultimately struggled to break into the first team in 2016–17, appearing mostly as an unused substitute.[13] In January 2017, Málaga were reported to be in advanced talks with Leicester over a possible loan deal for the player.[14]

Málaga

On 24 January 2017, after spending just six months in England, Hernández returned to Spain and its top level to join Málaga on a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[15] He made his debut three days later in a 1–1 draw away to Osasuna,[16] and scored his first goal for the club on 14 May in another away fixture, 2–2 against Real Sociedad.[17]

Hernández scored his second goal for the team on 12 June 2019, in a 4–2 defeat to Deportivo de La Coruña in the first leg of the promotion play-offs semi-final.[18] He also took part in the second match, a 1–0 loss.[19][20]

Along with seven other first-team players, Hernández was released on 3 October 2020 due to a layoff.[21]

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Hernández joined Maccabi Tel Aviv on 5 October 2020, agreeing to a one-year contract with an option to extend a further season.[22] His team came runners-up in the Israeli Premier League in his first season,[23][24] and he also scored in extra time to help them defeat Hapoel Tel Aviv 2–1 in the final of the State Cup.[25]

Cádiz

On 31 January 2022, Hernández returned to Spain and its top tier after signing a 18-month deal with Cádiz.[26]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 June 2023[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid C2008–09Tercera División383383
Real Madrid B2009–10Segunda División B253253
2010–11Segunda División B110110
Total36300000000363
Sporting B2011–12Segunda División B100100
2012–13Segunda División B1010
Total11000000000110
Sporting Gijón2012–13Segunda División20010210
2013–14Segunda División38110391
2014–15Segunda División41010420
2015–16La Liga36010370
Total1351400000001391
Leicester City2016–17Premier League4000004[b]01[c]090
Málaga2016–17La Liga191191
2017–18La Liga36020380
2018–19Segunda División240002[d]1261
2019–20Segunda División29000290
2020–21Segunda División000000
Total1081200000211122
Maccabi Tel Aviv2020–21Israeli Premier League3113180432
2021–22Israeli Premier League141101101[e]0261
Total4524119010693
Cádiz2021–22La Liga16010170
2022–23La Liga35010360
Total51020530
Career total38610120002304142012

References