“The Tokyo Olympic cycle was a proving ground for many of us in performance sport.” I know how much time and effort he has put into this decision, and after some more work with the squad, he feels the time has come to move on to new endeavours. He has given so much to the sport and is well-deserving of a well-deserved rest. We wish him the best and hope to maintain a close relationship in the coming years.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that Danny has created some of the most magical moments our sport has seen in the modern era,” said Sheila Morrow, President of Great Britain Hockey. Anyone who watched the Rio women’s final knows exactly where they were when the final shootout went in, and that match will never be forgotten. But Danny’s legacy is much more than just medals; he is a truly pioneering coach with the ability to lead a group of players – both men and women – and leave a positive impact on so many people who worked with him. He leaves the game as an absolute giant, and I wish him and his family the best of luck in the future – you have earned everything that comes your way.”
“It has been a pleasure to work with Danny over the last three years,” England and Great Britain vice-captain David Ames said. After only a few months in charge, he led us to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, demonstrating why he’s regarded as one of the best in the world. His attention to detail, level of planning, and tactical knowledge of the game demonstrate why he has been able to sustain long-term success during his coaching career with Great Britain Hockey. I wish him the best of luck on his next adventure and thank him for all of his hard work and dedication to our men’s programme.”
“Having been coached by Danny since 2005 when he joined the national team, I would like to personally thank him for all his years of dedication and service to our programmes,” said Alex Danson-Bennett, former women’s captain and double Olympic medallist. Our results tell the best storey, going from sixth place in Beijing to bronze in London and then Olympic gold. Danny is one of the world’s leading tacticians, if not the world’s leading tactician, and has made hockey a sport that everyone talks about.
“He was instrumental in bringing us to a professional level when we became full-time athletes in 2009; he gave us ownership over our programme and allowed us to foster an environment that ultimately led to our success.” I’d like to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours and thank him for his extraordinary contribution. I will always be grateful for everything he brought to us, the memories we all made, the moments we created, and the sense of team togetherness we will always have.”
England and Great Britain Hockey would like to express their gratitude and respect for Danny’s enormous contribution once more. Assistant coach Zak Jones will now lead the squads on an interim basis. The search for a permanent head coach will begin soon.