The German men’s national field hockey team enters its latest international campaign under new leadership, as defender Tom Grambusch takes over the captaincy from his brother, Mats Grambusch. Selected by the squad following his brother’s retirement in 2025, the 31-year-old enters his first major tournament as skipper at the upcoming Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, scheduled from August 15 to 30, according to reports from Sport1.
Stepping Into the Role: A Distinct Leadership Style
With 150 international appearances for the German Hockey Federation (DHB) to his name, Tom Grambusch inherits an armband previously held by a sibling with whom he shared the pitch for nine years. During their joint tenure, the brothers captured World Cup and European titles alongside two Olympic medals—bronze at the 2016 Rio Games and silver at the 2024 Paris Games, as detailed by Sport1.
Rather than attempting to replicate his brother’s exact approach, the Rot-Weiss Köln player aims to stamp his own identity on the position. “Basically, I am in a very lively exchange with him,” Tom Grambusch told a media round table, noting that he planned to speak with his brother again before the tournament begins. He emphasized that they are different types of leaders with distinct strengths.
“Vom Team nach dem Rücktritt seines Bruders 2025 als Nachfolger gewählt worden zu sein, gebe ihm Rückhalt,” Grambusch noted regarding the backing of his teammates, adding that he feels comfortable in the role thus far.
Tournament Schedule and Group Stage Opponents
The team opens its tournament on Saturday against Malaysia, followed by a fixture against tournament co-hosts and major contenders Belgium on August 17. Their final preliminary round match pits them against fourth-place Olympic finishers France on August 19, according to Sport1.
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