Alyson Annan will start as the national coach of the Chinese hockey players. The Australian-born is already on the bench in Valencia on Tuesday afternoon at the Pro League match against Argentina.
Annan was the national coach of the Dutch hockey players from 2015 to the beginning of this year. She had to leave there because of “a difference of opinion about the approach of the current process to improve cooperation and group culture at Orange”.
Evaluation interviews with the selection showed that not all those involved had a good feeling about the team climate in which they performed. In March, the hockey association recognized that the performance climate in the women’s national team has not been safe.
A survey by Fijbes Consultancy found that a large proportion of those surveyed viewed culture as negative. The strong hierarchy in particular was experienced as inhibiting “openness and individuality”. Negative experiences with the national coach were also mentioned.
Annan has led the Dutch hockey players to, among other things, a world title and three European titles. Last year, Orange under her leadership grabbed Olympic gold in Tokyo. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Netherlands had to settle for silver.
The 48-year-old Annan’s contract with the Dutch hockey association continued until the World Cup, which will be held this year from 1 to 17 July in Spain and the Netherlands. Her duties have since been taken over by Jamilon Mülders.