GLOBAL HOCKEY HERO: BILLY BAKKER (NETHERLANDS)

Netherlands

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The 32-year-old attacking midfielder has had a profound influence on the Dutch side ever since he made his debut in 2009.

Billy Bakker’s great big moment came in the 2012 London Olympic semifinals where his hat-trick sent the hosts Great Britain spiraling to a 2-9 defeat.

However, the Dutch lost to Germany in the final 1-2, to bring Bakker the first of a string of silver medals at major global events. Bakker, who has collected more than 230 caps and scored over 60 goals, had to rest content with silver medals at the 2014 World Cup at home in The Hague and the 2018 edition in Bhubaneswar, India.

Bakker led The Netherlands to their sixth EuroHockey Championship title in his home town Amstelveen where they beat Germany in the final through a shootout. Given his pace, power and vision, he is likely to be the central figure in a Dutch bid to convert silver to gold at the forthcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Having taken to the game when a little boy who watched his brother play, Bakker plays for Amsterdam HC in the Hoofdklasse, the Dutch premier league.