13 days in the past, Paul van Ass gained gold with the Orange girls on the Video games in Paris. Nevertheless it has already develop into clear that the Olympic remaining towards China was his final duel as nationwide coach. He isn’t closing the teaching e book but. ‘They’ll name six months earlier than Los Angeles.’
‘I don’t suppose it’s unusual in any respect to look again. To understand that this was it. It’s okay. I’m pleased with the way it turned out. I’m fairly down-to-earth about that. It feels spherical and completed. It doesn’t get any higher than this for me.’
Van Ass, who has simply turned 64, says it with out remorse, dissatisfaction or doubt. The information of his departure had been out for lower than fifteen minutes on the time of the decision. Two days earlier, he had put an finish to it with the hockey affiliation. ‘That was not a sudden choice. We had already talked about my future earlier than the Video games. At that second, I didn’t need to decide about it. First Paris, then transfer on. I didn’t need to let issues down anyway. However I additionally seen that I discovered the interval till the subsequent Olympic Video games very lengthy.’
‘The position of nationwide coach is difficult, attention-grabbing and generally sophisticated and tough for me. At this stage of my teaching profession, I don’t see that for an additional 4 years. I even have my work as an entrepreneur exterior of hockey. I need to make investments time in that too. I’d have favored to remain for some time longer, if the affiliation had wished that. To do some matches within the Professional League, or one thing like that. Or perhaps even the European Championship subsequent summer time. However you don’t construct something with that. That may primarily be minding the store. That’s not very chill, so it’s really higher this fashion. They’ll now begin constructing a bunch in direction of 2028. A brand new begin, with a brand new coach.’
Nonetheless curious: persevering with till the 2026 World Cup in your personal nation was not an choice for you both?
‘Let’s be trustworthy: for those who’ve finished the Olympic Video games, the World Cup can be much less attention-grabbing. In the event you add up my earlier nationwide coach roles, I’ve been working internationally for 9 years. I’ve already skilled rather a lot in that point. As I already mentioned: it doesn’t get any higher than this, after such a historic match with two golds. Then it’s superb too. At my request, we had that dialog on Tuesday. A follow-up dialog, so it didn’t come out of the blue .’
You talked about the phrase heavy simply now. Was it more durable for you in Paris than you had anticipated?
‘Not essentially. However the match carries a variety of weight with it. You’re ‘all of the sudden’ enjoying in entrance of the world. As a coach you lead the employees, the group of gamers, you additionally attempt to run the surface world a bit and also you additionally need to keep watch over your self. That takes power. Maybe greater than individuals suppose. It was an intense course of. Tremendous cool too. As a result of I’d say ‘sure’ to the job once more now, with the data I’ve now. It didn’t disappoint me. However to place pawns on the sphere once more for 4 years to get to that time once more…’
‘Precisely. A bit too many.’
Do you look again on Paris with satisfaction?
‘Sure, I believed it was incredible. I believe I used to be capable of contribute to the tradition of the crew. The environment has develop into extra open and light-hearted, however not much less skilled or fanatical. Would I achieve altering the tradition? I believe so, after I look again now. Experiencing such a course of with the perfect crew on the earth, I discovered it very attention-grabbing.’
Earlier than the Video games, you indicated that you simply wished to point out spectacle in Paris. That it was your private mission to advertise the game. Did you succeed, do you suppose?
‘Actually. Spectacle was additionally turning the group match towards Germany round or coming again to the ultimate. And within the semi-finals, we confirmed our dominance. Solely, scores just like the 8-0 and 7-0 (which the Dutch did obtain within the Professional League, ed.) didn’t occur. That’s proper. I didn’t anticipate that myself. It’s the Video games in spite of everything… Everybody dives for a ball there, which they usually let go. Different groups rose above themselves.’
And your ladies?
‘They knew on the Professional League: we’ll win this. In Paris they knew they couldn’t make a mistake. That’s why the quarter-final towards Nice Britain was so totally different from the Professional League match in December, once we outplayed them 8-0.’
That can be because of your personal stress.
‘Sure. And thankfully there’s generally rigidity. As a result of in any other case a match like that is nothing. As a coach I’m proud that we had been capable of undergo that rigidity and nonetheless win. That makes it particular for me too. I mentioned it earlier than: you don’t simply choose up that gold medal on the grocery store. That street there’s too lengthy for an additional journey. However I do secretly hope that somebody will name me six months earlier than the Los Angeles Video games. That may be the perfect situation.’
Ha, who ought to that be?
‘I don’t know but. In such a brief interval you solely have the advantages of the match, not the burdens. I’ve no plans within the quick time period. I additionally don’t know if I’d need to do something at membership degree. I don’t suppose so now: in six months it may be totally different. We’ll see. First I’ll go on vacation.’