Belgium men's national field hockey team
The Belgian national men's field hockey team represents Belgium in international men's field hockey and is controlled by the Royal Belgian Hockey Association, the governing body for field hockey in Belgium.[2][3][4]
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Nickname(s) | Red Lions | ||
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Association | Royal Belgian Hockey Association | ||
Confederation | EHF (Europe) | ||
Head Coach | Michel van den Heuvel | ||
Assistant coach(es) | Steve Bayer Shane McLeod Xavier Reckinger | ||
Manager | Eric Pirenne | ||
Captain | Félix Denayer | ||
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FIH ranking | |||
Current | 2 ![]() | ||
Highest | 1 (December 2018 – June 2019, January 2020 – June 2021) | ||
Lowest | 14 (2003–04) | ||
Olympic Games | |||
Appearances | 15 (first in 1920) | ||
Best result | 1st (2020) | ||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 7 (first in 1973) | ||
Best result | 1st (2018) | ||
European Championship | |||
Appearances | 18 (first in 1970) | ||
Best result | 1st (2019) | ||
Medal record |
Belgium won the Men's Hockey World Cup in 2018, the European Championship in 2019, the 2020-21 FIH Pro League and the gold medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They also won a silver medal at the 2023 Bhubaneswar & Rourkela and 2016 Rio de Janeiro and a bronze medal at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics. They reached eight semi-finals at the European Championship since 1995, including a third place in 2007 and runners-up in 2013 and 2017.
History
Hockey was introduced in Belgium in 1902. The country's first club was founded in 1904. In 1907, several clubs established the Belgian Hockey Association. Belgium played its first international match against Germany, and was one of the founding members of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Between 1920 and 1978, Belgium appeared in two of the first three World Cups and in eleven out of thirteen Summer Olympics. After the successful early years (before the 1950s) with three times being among the best five at the Summer Olympics, it would last six decades before Belgium reached the international field hockey top again from the 1990s on.
By the early 2000s, the Royal Belgian Hockey Association started to invest heavily in the youth and modernized its structures. In 2007, Belgium won the bronze medal at the European Championship, a first in the country's history. Belgium also qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics, for the first time in 32 years.
Belgium won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, a second medal after Belgium ended third at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Two years later Belgium won the 2018 Hockey World Cup. It was the first major international title in the country's history. A year later Belgium won the gold medal at the European Championship which was held in Antwerp. They secured their second consecutive olympic medal through reaching the gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Honours
- Summer Olympics
First place: 2020
Second place: 2016
Third place: 1920
- World Cup
First place: 2018
Second place: 2023
- European Championship
First place: 2019
Second place: 2013, 2017
Third place: 2007, 2021, 2023
- FIH Pro League
First place: 2020–21
Second place: 2019, 2021–22
- Hockey World League
Second place: 2014-15
- Champions Challenge
First place: 2011
Third place: 2005
- Belgian National Sports Merit Award
- Winners: 1959, 2019
- Belgian Sportsteam of the Year
- Winners: 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019
Tournament history
A red box around the year indicates a tournament played within Belgium.
Summer Olympics
Gold Silver Bronze Fourth place
![](../I/1920_olympics_poster.jpg.webp)
Olympic Games record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Not held | ||||||||
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Bronze medal | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 19 | |
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Not held | ||||||||
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Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Group phase | 9th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |
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Group phase | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |
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Second round | 9th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | |
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Group phase | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
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Group phase | 11th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | |
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Group phase | 11th | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 13 | |
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Group phase | 9th | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 9 | |
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Group phase | 10th | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 16 | |
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Group phase | 9th | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 19 | |
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did not qualify | ||||||||
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Group phase | 9th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 13 | |
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Group phase | 5th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 11 | |
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Champion | 1st | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 13 | |
Total | Best: Champion | 15/25 | 82 | 36 | 12 | 34 | 174 | 163 |
World Cup
![](../I/Thomas_Briels_Lifting_2018_Men's_Hockey_World_Cup_Trophy.jpg.webp)
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
FIH World Cup record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Group phase | 8th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Group phase | 14th | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 18 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Group phase | 11th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 26 | |
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did not qualify | ||||||||
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Group phase | 14th | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 23 | |
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did not qualify | ||||||||
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5th–6th play-off | 5th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 13 | |
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Winners | 1st | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 5 | |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 8 | |
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Qualified | ||||||||
Total | Best: Winners | 7/15 | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 97 | 105 |
European Championship
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
European Championship Record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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Second round | 5th | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 7 | |
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Group phase | 10th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Group phase | 8th | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 17 | |
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Group phase | 10th | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 21 | |
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Group phase | 9th | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 | |
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Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | |
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Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 28 | |
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Group phase | 6th | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 21 | |
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Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 20 | |
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Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 14 | |
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Group phase | 5th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 11 | |
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Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | |
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Group phase | 5th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 13 | |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | |
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Winners | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
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Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 10 | |
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Third place | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 8 | |
Total | 1 title | 18/19 | 105 | 52 | 16 | 37 | 273 | 236 |
FIH Pro League
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
FIH Pro League record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 57 | 33 | |
2020–21 | Winners | 1st | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 26 | |
2021–22 | Runners-up | 2nd | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 25 | |
2022–23 | Third place | 3rd | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 42 | 37 | |
Total | Best: Winners | 4/4 | 62 | 38 | 10 | 14 | 191 | 121 |
Hockey World League (defunct)
Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Hockey World League record | |||||||||
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Year | Position | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
2012–13 | 5th | Round 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 6 | |
Semifinal | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 9 | |||
Final | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 10 | |||
2014–15 | 2nd | Semifinal | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 8 | |
Final | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 9 | |||
2016–17 | 5th | Semifinal | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 8 | |
Final | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | |||
Total | Best: 2nd | Final | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 158 | 55 |
Champions Trophy (defunct)
Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Champions Trophy record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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First round | 5th | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 16 | |
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Second round | 8th | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 15 | |
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Second round | 5th | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 15 | |
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Second round | 5th | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 15 | |
Total | Best: 5th place | 4/37 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 53 | 61 |
Champions Challenge (defunct)
Winners Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Champions Challenge record | |||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
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5th–6th play-off | 6th | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 18 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Third place | 3rd | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 17 | |
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5th–6th play-off | 6th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 21 | |
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7th–8th play-off | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 9 | |
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Winners | 1st | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 12 | |
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did not participate | ||||||||
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Total | Best: Winners | 5/8 | 32 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 80 | 77 |
- *Draws include matches decided on a penalty shoot-out.
Team
Current squad
The following 18 players were named on 31 July 2023 for the 2023 EuroHockey Championship from 19 to 27 August 2023 in Mönchengladbach, Germany.[5]
Head coach: Michel van den Heuvel
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club | |
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2 | GK | Loic Van Doren | 14 September 1996 | 50 | ![]() | |
21 | GK | Vincent Vanasch | 21 December 1987 | 269 | ![]() | |
4 | DF | Arthur Van Doren | 1 October 1994 | 227 | ![]() | |
12 | DF | Gauthier Boccard | 26 August 1991 | 276 | ![]() | |
15 | DF | Emmanuel Stockbroekx | 23 December 1993 | 188 | ![]() | |
16 | DF | Alexander Hendrickx | 6 August 1993 | 170 | ![]() | |
23 | DF | Arthur De Sloover | 3 May 1997 | 142 | ![]() | |
25 | DF | Loïck Luypaert | 19 August 1991 | 289 | ![]() | |
7 | MF | John-John Dohmen | 24 January 1988 | 453 | ![]() | |
19 | MF | Félix Denayer (Captain) | 31 January 1990 | 375 | ![]() | |
24 | MF | Antoine Kina | 13 February 1996 | 105 | ![]() | |
26 | MF | Victor Wegnez | 25 December 1995 | 147 | ![]() | |
31 | MF | Arno Van Dessel | 3 July 2003 | 18 | ![]() | |
8 | FW | Florent van Aubel | 25 October 1991 | 279 | ![]() | |
10 | FW | Cédric Charlier | 27 November 1987 | 365 | ![]() | |
13 | FW | Nicolas De Kerpel | 23 March 1993 | 107 | ![]() | |
20 | FW | William Ghislain | 28 July 1999 | 24 | ![]() | |
30 | FW | Nelson Onana | 1 March 2000 | 15 | ![]() |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the national team in the last 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club | Latest call-up | |
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GK | Simon Vandenbroucke | 6 June 1999 | 5 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
DF | Maxime Van Oost | 2 December 1999 | 24 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
DF | Nicolas Poncelet | 19 September 1996 | 36 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
MF | Tobias Biekens | 2 January 2001 | 5 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
MF | Guillermo Hainaut | 8 June 2002 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
MF | Simon Gougnard | 17 January 1991 | 322 | ![]() |
2023 FIH Hockey World Cup | |
FW | Thibeau Stockbroekx | 20 July 2000 | 22 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Tom Boon | 25 January 1990 | 335 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Sébastien Dockier | 28 December 1989 | 243 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Tanguy Cosyns | 29 June 1991 | 170 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Roman Duvekot | 21 June 2000 | 3 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Thomas Crols | 11 September 2003 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() | |
FW | Guillaume Hellin | 28 May 2001 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
See also
References
- "FIH Outdoor World Hockey Rankings". FIH. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- Jonckheere, Karien. "Newly crowned hockey champs Belgium's SA connection". SuperSport. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- "Craig Fulton helps guide Belgium to maiden hockey World Cup". www.irishtimes.com. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- "Fulton's pride shines as the Red Lions claim World Cup crown". www.independent.ie. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- "Red Lions – drie jonge talenten in de selectie voor het EK 2023". hockey.be (in Dutch). Royal Belgian Hockey Association. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
External links
![](../I/Commons-logo.svg.png.webp)