A strong start as interim manager has helped Pablo Hernandez earn a longer stint in charge of Spanish side Castellon.The club confirmed Hernandez would remain at the helm until the end of the 2025/26 LaLiga 2 season. “CD Castellon is delighted with Pablo’s work so far and is confident that he will continue in the same vein throughout the Second Division season,” a club statement read.Hernandez was installed as caretaker boss on September 16 after Johan Plat, who was appointed on January 20, got sacked.How has Hernandez performed as Castellon manager?Since Hernandez took over, Castellon have won four matches, drawn two and lost two from eight matches to sit 12th out of 22 teams in the Spanish second tier.Hernandez may attribute his early success at Castellon down to Marcelo Bielsa, who coached the Spanish attacker at Leeds United.Bielsa is renowned for his unique and intense coaching methods, some of which evidently rubbed off on Hernandez as he spoke glowingly about his former boss in an interview with Cadena SER.Hernandez hails Bielsa’s influence“The one who has marked me most is Marcelo Bielsa,” Hernandez said.“I learned things that I had not noticed in my career.”The four-time Spain international added he’d been replicating some of the drills he did under Bielsa at Thorp Arch.“They are exercises that we do in training and that Bielsa told us that they applied perfectly to the games on the field,” Hernandez said.“They are exercises that at first glance the player wonders what they are for, but then you realise that it’s all for something. They move perfectly to Sundays.”Bielsa’s methods helped bring the best out of HernandezAFPAnd the 40-year-old has already implemented some of the Argentinian’s methods at his new roleAFP or licensorsHernandez’s appointment at Castellon, if only until the end of the season, also marks a full circle moment for the Spaniard.Hernandez’s career at a glanceThe 40-year-old spent six years in Castellon’s academy before he moved to Valencia in 2003.He went on to make his senior debut for Valencia on the final day of the 2005/06 campaign but would not appear for the club again until 2008 as he spent time with Valencia’s B team, Onda, Cadiz and Getafe.In his second stint at Valencia, Hernandez went on to make 155 appearances across all competitions and netted 25 goals before the Premier League came calling in the form of Swansea City, where he helped the club win the League Cup in 2013.Hernandez lasted two seasons in Wales as moves to Qatari club Al Arabi and Saudi side Al Nassr followed, with a return to Spanish football eventually sealed in August 2015 at Rayo Vallecano.After Rayo’s relegation from LaLiga, Hernandez was on the move once more as he linked up with then-Championship side Leeds in August 2016.Hernandez remains a hero among the Elland Road faithfulHernandez quickly established himself as a fan favourite at Elland Road thanks to his tricky displays in the final third.But the silky Spaniard reserved his best football for Bielsa’s entertaining stint in charge of Leeds.Under Bielsa, who guided Leeds back to the Premier League in 2020, Hernandez registered 21 goals and 23 assists from 94 appearances.Hernandez departed the club at the end of the 2020/21 campaign and returned to Castellon, who had just been relegated to the third tier of Spanish football.After three seasons with his hometown club, Hernandez called time on his career in July 2023 but remained with Castellon in an ambassadorial capacity before he took over the club’s reserves in June 2024.