Shane McLeod: “Olympic ticket via Pro League a higher priority”

As the final stages of the current FIH Hockey Pro League season approach (starting from 13 June), let us hear from the participating teams. Today, Shane McLeod, head coach of the Belgium men’s side, shares his thoughts.

At the halfway point of the Pro League season, the Red Lions are leading the standings. How do you assess the team’s evolution so far, especially with the integration of new players?

So far so good. It's been an enjoyable journey that has seen a lot of growth in individual players but more importantly massive growth as a team for the first part of the proleague.

With the final stretch approaching, what are the key priorities for the team to maintain that top position until the end of the competition?

There are two very different stages coming up. The first vs Pakistan and Spain will need to be matches that challenge how we play. We will need to use them to make a step as it would have been a few months since we would have played regularly as a team. If we do this well it should lead into the challenging block vs Australia and Holland. Everything being equal, that should be the deciding block to see who will be successful in the race for an early Olympic ticket.

Finishing first would mean securing direct qualification for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. How present is that objective in your day-to-day approach?

It is never one singular thing that dictates how you approach any series of games. We will of course have the Olympic ticket via Pro League as a higher priority than we have in the past but we are also getting ourselves ready for the upcoming World Cup. The balancing act of these two things is an interesting challenge.

All remaining matches will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre. How important can that home environment be in such a decisive phase of the season?

There is a Greek saying "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in" It has been scripted very well. The stadium is a tribute to the success of the Red Lions over the past 10 years and most of them will not play in the stadium. It is very fitting that the new generation understand this and honour it with top performances. We have already played an opening match at the stadium with a full stadium of hockey loving supporters that only want our Lions to play well. It helps us a great deal. The home crowd is like an extra player.

Beyond results, what would define a ‘successful’ end of the Pro League for you and your group?

If we have continued to grow our team and our game. That players feel that they understand our way of play so well that it allows them to express themselves fully on the field. That the players and the team continue to show what is possible.