De Goede to swap Amsterdam for HGC next season.

Two-time world player of the year Eva de Goede will make the surprising move next season from AH&BC Amsterdam to the HGC after ten years at the Wagener Stadium.

As such, the 32-year-old midfielder – and Dutch captain – moves from the runners-up in the national championship to a side that finished 11th this term, one place off relegation.

“I understand that this choice comes as quite a surprise to some people,” she explained to hockey.nl. 

“I also have to let it sink in, now that the play-offs have just finished. But I have a very strong feeling that this is what I should do. I don’t see it as phasing out [my career]. I think this choice is good for my growth as a player and as a person.”

She had intended to retire following the original scheduling of the Tokyo Olympic Games and go travelling with her boyfriend Tim Drummond to the likes of New Zealand and Australia.

The pandemic, however, saw those plans postponed and, with the new schedule, she now intends to say her farewell after the 2022 World Cup, potentially in front of a packed house in her home country.

“In a full stadium is where I want to say goodbye!”

As for the move The Hague, she has been living with Drummond in the city for six months and is now keen to limit the commute.

“It would be wonderful to jump around my bike and be able to cycle to the club. I hope to be get extra rest so that, in addition to my adventure at HGC, I can also continue to concentrate fully on the Dutch team.”

De Goede joined Amsterdam in 2010 having begun her hockey with Phoenix in Zeist before moving briefly to Kampong in Utrecht.

At Amsterdam, she won national titles in 2013 and 2019 as well as two European Cups in 2014 and 2019.

She endured a frustrating end to her time with the club following a nasty injury sustained in the EHL Women’s FINAL4 which ruled her out of the Dutch playoffs.

“I look back with pride on the ten beautiful seasons I have been able to play hockey for Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a wonderful club where we have taken a huge step with Dames 1 in recent years. 

“We have changed from a team that often lost against Den Bosch into a team that fought and seriously competed in the battle for the national title every year.

“I have the best memories of the two national titles we won.  I am proud we have achieved that as a team. Unfortunately, Den Bosch stood out last weekend but I am very grateful to everyone within the club for the ten beautiful years. Partly because of Amsterdam, I have become the best hockey player in the world.”

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