Friday, March 29, 2024

Alyson Annan records landmark win as Dutch hockey coach

Alyson Annan cemented her status as one of world hockey’s most successful coaches after racking up her 100th international win at the helm of the Holland women’s team at the weekend.

Holland’s 2-1 Pro League win over Germany on Saturday simply added to the cast-iron hold the Oranje have over any other women’s team on the world stage. She achieved the landmark in just 120 internationals.

Since taking over from Sjoerd Marijne as national women’s coach in December 2015 – that summer had seen England beat Holland to the 2015 EuroHockey title – Annan’s century of victories has come against 13 draws and just seven defeats in a little over five years.

According to hockey.nl statistics, Oranje women have a win percentage ratio edging towards 85 per cent. No other team comes close from the top 30 in the world, the next best logging around 66 per cent.

Titles won? The 2017 and 2019 European Championships, 2017 World League, 2018 Women’s World Cup, 2018 Champions Trophy and 2019 Pro League.

In winning the 2018 Champions Trophy title, it was their 43rd consecutive win, while it also marked their first since winning the now-defunct event on home soil in 2011.

With so much title success, it was little surprise to see Annan extend her contract to 2022 up until the next FIH World Cup in Holland and Spain.

Netherlands

With the exception of Olympic and Commonwealth titles, Annan is still alongside compatriot Ric Charlesworth as one of hockey’s most successful coaches.

Charlesworth ended his Hockeyroos tenure with 198 wins (25 draws, 30 losses) from 253 internationals, including two world and Olympic titles.

As Oranje look to regain the Olympic title they lost to Great Britain at Rio 2016, they are certainly in prime position to do so on current form.

Back into action since November, they duly recorded two wins over Germany in back-to-back Pro League matches.

Lidewij Welten has been Annan’s most successful attacker – scoring 50 times under the Australian – and she netted twice on Sunday in their second win as the Oranje moved 12 points clear at the top of the FIH Hockey Pro League standings.

It was their eighth victory in 10 Pro League games, their only blemish coming courtesy of a 2-0 loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires last February.

Total Hockey

spot_img

Most Popular

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Euro Hockey League: James Carson sends Old Georgians soaring into Final4

From England to Europe, when Old Georgians score it usually comes...

Bowdon ‘buzzing’ after return to England Hockey Premier Division

A “buzzing” Bowdon toasted promotion back to the Men's Premier Division...

England Hockey leagues ups and downs confirmed

2023/24 season promotion and relegation confirmed in England Hockey's leagues University...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img