Two awards & a baby? Pablo Hernandez’s very good day

Leeds United’s Pablo Hernandez had a very good day.

The Leeds Player of the Year Awards dinner was held tonight and Hernandez won both the Players’ Player of the Year Award and the Player of the Year award as well.

And if that wasn’t enough reason to be happy, his wife gave birth to a baby boy today as well, which explained his absence from tonight’s program and Sunday’s match against Queens Park Rangers. And as much as this day will be remembered for him cleaning up the Player of the Year awards, he’ll remember it more for the birth of his son.

Honestly, there was very little other choice for Player of the Year. The club had nominated a few other players, and, for some reason, pediatric cancer patient Toby Nye for the award. Along with Hernandez, Samu Saiz, Gjanni Alioski, and Kemar Roofe were also nominated for Player of the Year, but this was always Hernandez’s award to lose.

The nomination of young Toby Nye raised more than a few eyebrows, as cancer is something that transcends football and quite honestly, his sacrifice and courage are much greater than anything the players will ever face on the pitch.

It also speaks volumes that not only was Hernandez the fan choice for Player of the Year, but also the Players’ Player of the year. It’s one thing to impress the fans and be a fan favourite, it’s an entirely other thing to do the same with your peers.

Hernandez has been the glue that has held this team together this season. He’s been moved from his normal attacking midfield position out to winger for much of the season after the acquisition of Saiz, and he didn’t miss a beat. His free-kicks and corners kicks were a constant threat, and when he was missing through injury, it showed in the results and in the delivery from dead-ball situations.

And while it appeared for awhile that Hernandez might not be back next season, he signed a two year contract to stay at Leeds. At least that worked out well, right?

Congratulations on the awards and on the addition to your family, Pablo.