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Ex-Lion Xavier Reckinger starts Pro League as assistant national coach: “Building platform for European Championship” | Rescue Lions

The Pro League hockey will start again on Friday. The Red Lions start their summer campaign in London, with the main goal of the European Championship in August. With former Red Lion Xavier Reckinger, an old acquaintance has turned up as a new assistant. “I sometimes wonder what I still have to teach those guys.”

“It feels like coming home to me,” says Xavier Reckinger. As a player, the 39-year-old from Antwerp experienced the full rise of Belgian hockey and was there with the Red Lions at the 2008 and 2012 Games.

He retired in 2017 and after his playing career he earned his stripes as national coach with the German women’s team. Now he is starting a new chapter with Belgium as assistant national coach.

“It’s special, because I’ve played with some guys. It’s fantastic to be on the staff of your own country. I’ve already been through some training sessions and it’s a great group.”

“When I come into the dressing room I sometimes wonder what I have to say to those players. (laughs) Those guys have so much experience and have already won everything. So it’s mainly a matter of guidance.”

Opportunities for the young

Confrontations with India and Great Britain await in the Pro League in the coming weeks. How important will those games be for the Lions? “It’s not really a first peak moment yet,” Reckinger clarifies.

“We will play the first weekend with a different team. After all, the Belgian competition has only just ended and many Belgians still have to contest the play-offs in the Netherlands. Vincent Vanasch also has to work in Germany.”

“That’s good, because we can see a lot of younger players in action. We may not start as the big favourites, but I expect the experienced players who do come along will run things a bit.”

Maybe we won’t start as big favourites, but I expect the experienced players who will be there to run things a bit.

Xavier Reckinger, assistant national coach

“There are not so many moments when the young guys can show themselves, so many guys will be eager, with a view to the European Championships and next summer (with the Paris Games, ed.).”

“Of course we want to win all matches, we are also obliged to do so by our status. But we mainly want to use this Pro League as a building platform towards the European Championship.”

Reunion with old acquaintance in India

With India, the Lions meet an opponent with a well-known coach: Craig Fulton, who was an assistant with Belgium until last year. His successor in that position is … Xavier Reckinger.

“That is special. Fulton will now face a team that he does not know very well, but he will be keen to beat us. India has been on the rise for a long time and is a strong opponent.”

“I am also very impressed with the progress that Great Britain is making. So it will be two great preparation matches against two top countries.”

2023-05-24 20:35:50
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