Teun de Nooijer on being “Johan Cruyff of Hockey”, a legend and mental toughness

In the upcoming MIND SC clubhouse event, we talk to a legend in the world of field hockey: Teun de Nooijer has often been compared to the legendary footballer Johan Cruyff due to his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport. This comparison highlights Teun’s significant impact on hockey, mirroring the influence Cruyff had in football.

Teun played for Bloemendaal when he was sixteen. And then other things started happening: “The coach of the Young Dutch National Team called our home phone. And he said: ‘We are going to select for the World Cup and I would like to have you there. Are you open to that?’ I thought it was a strange question, because of course I was open to it. That’s when I started to realize that I could become very good. After the Young Dutch National Team, the Dutch National Team was also increasingly within reach. I hadn’t really been focused on that before. Then I just went from training to training and from match to match.”

“As a highlight, I can of course mention the World Cup in ’98. We became world champions in Utrecht. And of course, the Olympic championship in Atlanta. But my first big win is also still very deep inside me: With the North Holland B-team, we became Dutch champions indoors. That was fantastic.”

Do you want to get some inspiration? Reserve January 4th with your towels: Laureus Legend, multiple FIH Player of the Year, and 5-times Olympian Teun de Nooijer, also a Leadership Expert at McDermott and Bull, will visit us in our MIND SC clubhouse. He’ll be talking about the biggest mistakes in goal setting, mental toughness, and how to stick to your goals.