Luis Hernandez Rodriguez, a 31-year-old central defender joined Maccabi on a free transfer from Spanish club Malaga CF, successfully underwent a medical at the club and signed one-year-deal with an option to extend by a further season.
Hernandez, 183cm, who will wear the number 44 at Maccabi, told the club’s official website: “I am happy to be joining Maccabi, a club I heard so much about from Juan Pablo Colinas and Jose Rodriguez. Playing in the EUROPA League and competing for titles is something I will be looking forward to. But more than anything I hope to see the Maccabi fans back in the stadium very soon”.
A product of Real Madrid’s Youth Academy, Hernandez played for Real Madrid’s C’ and Real Madrid B’ between 2007-2011 before joining Real Sporting de Gijon in 2012. Hernandez, who played at Gijon alongside former Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo Colinas, made 140 appearances and scored one goal in four seasons for the Asturian club.
In the summer of 2016, Hernandez moved to England and joined Premier League Champions, Leicester City. Hernandez made 9 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes including four in the Champions League group stages. Towards the end of the 2017 January transfer window, Hernandez, returned to Spain and joined Malaga. The central defender who could also play as a full-back, scored 2 goals in 112 appearances in the top and second Spanish tiers as well as captaining the Andalusian side on several occasions.
