John-John Dohmen could equal the men’s world caps record next month. The Belgian, 35, is currently on 445 international matches, according to FIH records, and should he play in all eight of Belgium‘s remaining matches he will stand alongside Teun de Nooijer’s feat of 453.
However, given the amount of games in the Pro League and teams having a policy of resting players, it is likely that Dohmen will break the record during this summer’s EuroHockey Championships in Germany.
Dohmen, who turned 35 in January, was always likely to break the longstanding record after deciding to carry on his career following the Red Lions gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In an interview with THP last January, he said: “I know I am really close to the best player of all time, who for me is alongside Jamie Dwyer. And if I can beat a guy like Teun in a certain category I will try to do it as it would be amazing.
“It is a challenge for me to do that for sure. I am so close and if I continue for two years I can do it, but I have to do well and be selected but I will do everything to try and achieve it.”
Most capped men’s international hockey players
453 – Teun de Nooijer (Netherlands)
445 – John-John Dohmen (Belgium)*
432 – Barry Middleton (GB)
422 – Eddie Ockenden (Australia)*
412 – Dilip Tirkey (India)
410 – Waseem Ahmed (Pakistan)
401 – Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands)
*current player
Eddie Ockenden, the Australia captain, is currently on 422 caps and is still playing aged 36.
The two are set to line up against each other this weekend, with Australia men in Europe on their Pro League leg.
Should Dohmen defy age and play the remaining Red Lions games in this season’s Pro League, he would equal the record in their last home game in Antwerp against the Netherlands on July 4.
