View source for Alyson Annan

{{short description|Australian field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name           = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} Alyson Annan
| image          = Alyson Annan in 2016.jpg
| caption        = Alyson Annan (2016)
| fullname       = Alyson Regina Annan
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1973|6|12|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Wentworthville, New South Wales]], Australia
| height         = 162&nbsp;cm
| weight         = 65&nbsp;kg
| nationalyears1 = 1991–2001
| nationalteam1  = [[Australia women's national field hockey team|Australia]]
| nationalcaps1  = 228
| nationalgoals1 = 166
| manageryears1  = 2015–2021
| managerclubs1  = [[Netherlands women's national field hockey team|Netherlands ]]
| manageryears2  = 2022–
| managerclubs2  = [[China women's national field hockey team|China]]
| show-medals    = no
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalGold|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Field hockey at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Field hockey at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Hockey Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1994 Women's Hockey World Cup|1994 Dublin]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 Women's Hockey World Cup|1998 Utrecht]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Champions Trophy (field hockey)|Champions Trophy]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1993 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|1993 Amstelveen]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[1995 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|1995 Mar del Plata]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[1997 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|1997 Berlin]]|}}
{{MedalGold|[[1999 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|1999 Brisbane]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2000 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|2000 Amstelveen]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2001 Women's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|2001 Amstelveen]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]]|[[Hockey at the Commonwealth Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Junior Hockey World Cup|Junior World Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1993 Women's Hockey Junior World Cup|1993 Barcelona]]|}}
}}
'''Alyson Regina Annan''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 12 June 1973) is an Australian [[field hockey]] coach and retired field hockey player, who earned a total number of 228 international caps for the [[Hockeyroos|Women's National Team]], in which she scored 166 goals. Since 2022, she is also the current head coach of the [[China women's national field hockey team]].

From 2015, Annan was the head coach of the [[Netherlands women's national field hockey team]]; she led the team to a silver medal at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Brazil]] and a gold medal at [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]] as well as gold medals at the 2017 and the 2021 [[Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship]] in [[The Netherlands]]. In 2022, she was sacked for creating a [[culture of fear]], although several experienced players in the team reported that they had not been consulted [https://nos.nl/artikel/2412829-bondscoach-annan-ontslagen-bij-hockeyvrouwenploeg-na-berichten-over-angstcultuur].

During 2013 Annan gained the prestigious award of becoming a member of Sport Australia Hall of Fame. She is currently head coach of the China Women's National team.

==Biography==
Annan was born on 12 June 1973 in [[Wentworthville, New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference|title=Alyson Annan|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/an/alyson-annan-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235308/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/an/alyson-annan-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|access-date=3 October 2015}}</ref> She was voted the ''Best Female Hockey Player in the World'' in 1999.<ref name="award 1999">{{cite news |url=http://hockeynsw.com.au/images/documents/HallofFame/HNSW_HALLOFFAME_AAnnan.pdf |title=Alyson Annan OAM |date=November 2007 |access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref> In the following year, she led the Australian team to gold at the [[Field hockey at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Summer Olympics]]. She subsequently retired from international competition and moved to the [[Netherlands]]. In the Netherlands she played for [[HC Klein Zwitserland]] from [[The Hague]]. She retired in 2003, becoming the coach of Dutch league team [[HC Klein Zwitserland]]. In 2004, she was an assistant of Dutch Head Coach [[Marc Lammers]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens, Greece]], when [[Netherlands women's national field hockey team|the Netherlands]] won silver.

Annan was married to Argentinian hockey player, [[Maximiliano Caldas]].<ref name=private_life/> After their divorce her partner became [[Carole Thate]], a former Dutch hockey captain and fellow Olympic medallist. Annan and Thate had their first child, Sam Henk Brian Thate, in May 2007.<ref name="private_life">Hannan, Liz. "[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/divided-in-sport-united-in-love/2007/06/30/1182624235011.html]". ''[[The Age|The Sunday Age]]'', 1 July 2007. Retrieved on 18 May 2011</ref> Their second son, Cooper Thate, was born in October 2008.<ref name=2nd_son>Connolly, Paul. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/back-home-to-show-off-their-boys/2009/01/10/1231004355739.html "Back home to show off their boys"] ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 11 January 2009. Retrieved on 18 May 2011</ref>

Annan was to be the coach of the first women's team of the [[Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club]] during the 2012–2013 season.<ref name="coach Amsterdam">{{cite news |url=http://www.ahbc.nl/site/default.asp?Option=51&NewsID=3745 |title=Alyson Annan per volgend seizoen hoofdcoach Dames 1 Amsterdam  |language=nl |date=26 March 2012 |access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref>

In 2013 Annan was inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alyson Annan enters Sport Australia Hall of Fame|url=http://www.hockey.org.au/News/alyson-annan-enters-sport-australia-hall-of-fame|website=hockey.org.au|publisher=[[Hockey Australia]]|access-date=3 October 2015}}</ref>

In October 2015 she was named as head coach of the [[Netherlands women's national field hockey team|Netherlands women's team]], succeeding Sjoerd Marijne. Annan's former husband Max Caldas previously coached the Netherlands women's team to a gold medal at the [[Field hockey at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2012 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hockey great Alyson Annan made Dutch head coach for Rio Olympics|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/hockey-great-alyson-annan-made-dutch-head-coach-for-rio-olympics/news-story/a4427d35c1874e6088ddedd3db1d5b9c|publisher=The Australian|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref> During the
[[Field hockey at the 2016 Summer Olympics|2016 games in Rio de Janeiro]] Annan coached her team to a silver medal losing to the Great Britain Team after shoot-outs in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/sport-olympics/women-s-hockey-final-netherlands-vs-team-gb-brits-aren-t-afraid-as-the-dutch-go-for-triple-gold-at-a3324581.html|title=One to go: Brits aren't afraid as the Dutch go for triple gold at Rio|date=19 August 2016|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

In 2022, Annan was fired as coach of the Netherlands women's team after an investigation into accusations of verbal [[intimidation]] and creating a [[culture of fear]] and [[culture of silence|silence]].<ref>"[https://nos.nl/artikel/2412829-bondscoach-annan-ontslagen-bij-hockeyvrouwenploeg-na-berichten-over-angstcultuur Bondscoach Annan ontslagen bij hockeyvrouwenploeg na berichten over angstcultuur]" (in Dutch), ''[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting]]'', 12 January 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2023.</ref> However, according to one Dutch hockey commentator, there was an internal divide within the team about how to achieve the team's objectives: "There were two currents within the Dutch team and the question was which one would come out on top" (English translation of the Dutch original). Several experienced players reported the decision had been made without consulting them, using hockey.nl to express their support for Annan and describing her as a "fantastic coach" (English translation of the Dutch original). [https://nos.nl/artikel/2412829-bondscoach-annan-ontslagen-bij-hockeyvrouwenploeg-na-berichten-over-angstcultuur] Annan chose not to comment publicly, beyond releasing a statement that "In recent months I have gained insight into the points that we as a team, staff and individuals could work on. In my opinion, there is no difference of opinion about what can be improved, but there is about the approach to it. I have drawn a line for myself there and this is unfortunately the consequence" (English translation of the Dutch original) [https://nos.nl/artikel/2412829-bondscoach-annan-ontslagen-bij-hockeyvrouwenploeg-na-berichten-over-angstcultuur].

==Major international tournaments==
* '''2000 [[Olympic Games]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1996 [[Olympic Games]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1992 [[Olympic Games]]''' 5th
* '''1998 [[Hockey World Cup]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1994 [[Hockey World Cup]]''' Gold Medal
* '''2001 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' 3rd
* '''2000 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' 3rd
* '''1999 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1997 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1995 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1993 [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1998 [[Commonwealth Games]]''' Gold Medal
* '''1993 [[Junior Hockey World Cup]]''' Silver Medal

==Awards==
* '''1994 Team of the Year''' Australian Sports Awards
* '''1995 Team of the Year''' Australian Sports Awards
* '''1996 Team of the Year''' Australian Sports Awards
* '''1996 Player of the Year''' [[Australian Women's Hockey Association]]
* '''1996 Player of the Series''' [[Australian Hockey League]]
* '''1996 New South Wales Sportswoman of the Year'''
* '''1996 New South Wales Athlete of the Year'''
* '''1996 [[Order of Australia Medal]]'''
* '''1997 Team of the Year''' Australian Sports Awards
* '''1997 Player of the Year''' [[Australian Women's Hockey Association]]
* '''1997 Player of the Tournament''' [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]
* '''1998 Team of the Year''' Australian Sports Awards
* '''1998 International Player of the Year''' [[International Hockey Federation]]
* '''1998 Player of the Tournament''' [[Hockey World Cup]]
* '''1998 Finalist World Sportswoman of the Year''' Women's Sport Foundation (USA)
* '''2000 International Player of the Year''' [[International Hockey Federation]]
* '''2002 Player of the Year''' [[Dutch League]]
* '''2003 Player of the Year''' [[Dutch League]]
* '''2013 Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee'''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sport Australia Hall of Fame|alyson-annan}}
* {{Australian Olympic Committee|alyson-annan}}
* {{Commonwealth Games Australia|alyson-annan}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{FIH|6234}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070313134734/http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/athletes/annan.htm Profile on ABC Australia]

{{Navboxes
|title=Alyson Annan – International tournaments
|list1=
{{1992 Australia Women's Olympic Field Hockey Team}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1993 Champions Trophy}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1994 World Cup}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1995 Champions Trophy}}
{{1996 Australia Women's Olympic Field Hockey Team}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1997 Champions Trophy}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1998 World Cup}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1998 Commonwealth Games}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 1999 Champions Trophy}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 2000 Champions Trophy}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Australia FHW Squad 2001 Champions Trophy}}
{{Netherlands FHW Squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Netherlands FHW Squad 2018 World Cup}}
{{Netherlands FHW Squad 2018 Champions Trophy}}
{{Netherlands FHW Squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{China FHW Squad 2022 World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Annan, Alyson}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian female field hockey players]]
[[Category:Australian field hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games field hockey players for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Australian bisexual sportspeople]]
[[Category:Australian bisexual women]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from New South Wales]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:LGBTQ field hockey players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate field hockey players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:HC Klein Zwitserland players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Bisexual sportswomen]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New South Wales]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]