Leeds United's Pablo Hernandez helps hometown club to promotion

The 33-year-old bought a stake in the club last year as part of a takeover funded by an eclectic group of players, businessmen and a former Valencia director with Castellón in real danger of going out of business after being loaded with debt.

Hernandez though stepped in alongside others to ensure the side where he began his career stayed afloat and now it has turned into a real success story.

New Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa looking to add ‘four or five’ new faces“The club needed people and if we didn’t take control then maybe it would have disappeared,” Hernandez told the YEP in May.

“I got into this project because Castellon had big problems. It’s my city, my club; the club where I started. It was important to me to help.”

Sergi Escobar's side defeated Club Portugalete 2-1 over a two-legged fourth division play-off and after sealing a 1-0 win in the home leg at the Nou Estadi Castalia on Sunday evening they confirmed a return to the third tier of Spanish football for the first time in seven years.

Action not words is new Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa’s mantraHernandez posted a message on his Instagram following the result: "Thank you all. I couldn't live in person, but at 2000 kilometers (I) cry for this very well promotion, without words, pride of team, club and hobby."