Coach of Belgium’s women's hockey team quits and joins the Netherlands
Raoul Ehren has quit as head coach of Belgium’s women's hockey team and will join the Netherlands. Ehren was pivotal in the recent progress of the Belgian team, including their fourth-place finish at this summer's Olympics.
The 51-year-old Dutchman led the Red Panthers to a silver medal at the European Championships last year and then took the team to the Paris Olympics, only their second time at the Games after London 2012. He has moved to the Dutch women's team, the new Olympic champions in Paris and the undisputed world number one.
Ehren's departure was expected surprise. The Belgian hockey association announced last week that its Dutch counterpart was trying to recruit the coach. On Monday, he confirmed his intention to end his two-year contract, which he signed last May.
"We have spent years building a relationship of trust with our Dutch colleagues. For us, this situation represents a break in that mutual trust"
Ehren had been head coach since December 2020, when he succeeded fellow Dutchman Niels Thijssen. He had previously been his assistant.
“As an employer, it is complicated to want to keep someone against their will,” said Serge Pilet, CEO of the hockey association. “Nevertheless, we are very disappointed with the way this has turned out. We have spent years building a relationship of trust with our Dutch colleagues. For us, this situation represents a break in that mutual trust.”
The association is now looking for "a new world-class coach who will take the team to even greater heights. At the same time, we thank Raoul Ehren for the work done, which has brought our Red Panthers to their current third position in the world rankings".
The team will resume training as scheduled on 24 September, ahead of their next international matches.
Raoul Ehren during the quarter-final between Belgium and Spain at the Paris Olympics, 5 August 2024 © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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