By Admin 
Shared leadership remains a rather uncommon concept in sport. In field hockey, it appears most visibly through dual captains at the junior level — a model used by Australia, Germany, Chile, and Switzerland. India follows a similar philosophy but uses a ‘leadership group’ of three or four senior players, including the captain, who collectively make on-field decisions.
At the international level, though, having two head coaches is rare. Most teams follow the traditional format: one head coach supported by an assistant, with major decisions resting firmly with the head coach.
Germany challenged the norm at the 2021 FIH junior men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar — it had a head coach Rein Van Eijk in the previous edition (’23) —when it appointed Johannes Schmitz and Valentin Altenburg as co-coaches.
The model worked, with Germany reaching the final before losing to Argentina. Four years on, Schmitz returns in another dual arrangement, this time with Mirko Stenzel, and the pair views shared leadership not as a complication but as a strength.
“For us, it’s a pleasure to work with each other because we have known each other for a long time, and we have had so many journeys together,” Schmitz told The Hindu. “It’s a big friendship and a privilege to work with this team.”
Stenzel said the model is ingrained in Germany’s coaching culture. “Shared leadership has been part of our philosophy for a long time. It helps us spread responsibilities and cover a wider leadership bandwidth. But the key is trust — without knowing each other well, it won’t work.”
The duo has known each other for 12 years, but their stint as assistant coaches with the German women’s team solidified their partnership. So, when the offer to lead the junior men’s World Cup squad came earlier this year, they did not hesitate.
Stenzel added that their roles now differ from the 2021 setup. “Back then, Schmitz led on the pitch and Valentin handled the bigger picture. Now, we simply look at each other and know who does what. We divide tasks naturally.”
Ahead of the quarterfinals against France, Stenzel acknowledged the rivalry and challenge but expressed confidence. Germany, a seven-time champion, has been training intensely in Chennai’s tough conditions, keeping its pursuit of an eighth title alive.