It’s a difficult thing to know when a player should move on: McLeod Premium

Belgium's hockey coach Shane McLeod emphasizes teamwork and mentorship in developing successful athletes for future championships.

“Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

It’s a phrase Shane McLeod doesn’t just say; it’s the motto he lives by and is a big reason for Belgian hockey head coach prioritising his team over an individual talent, regardless of how brilliant it may be.

In an era of quick results, fickle patience levels and sky-high expectations, McLeod is a throwback to the old times when a coach was more than just the man with the whiteboard and a plan. The 57-year old New Zealander, who has been at the helm of Belgian men’s hockey for more than a decade now, is as much a soft-spoken father figure to the players as the firm taskmaster entrusted with the team’s fortunes.

And he has delivered the goods, creating the golden generation of Belgian hockey with results burnishing his reputation — Olympic, World Cup and European Championship titles along with multiple medals at the aforementioned events.

But McLeod’s association with hockey goes a lot further back than 2015, when he took charge of the side. Having played at the highest level for New Zealand and coached them through two Olympic cycles, he was also in charge of the Belgian women’s team for four years before moving to Waterloo Ducks club.

With the country co-hosting the 2026 World Cup for the first time with the Netherlands, McLeod is keen on ensuring the legacy continues with a new generation coming through in an interaction with The Hindu: