The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to announce the recipients of the FIH Goalkeepers of the Year 2025 awards:
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Grace O’Hanlon (NZL)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Jean‑Paul Danneberg (GER)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Grace O’Hanlon (NZL)
Grace O’Hanlon delivered a remarkable 2024-25 season between the posts for the New Zealand Women’s hockey team. Her standout performances in two major tournaments played a key role in the Black Sticks’ resurgence in international hockey and earned her this prestigious accolade.
At the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Chile 2024-25, Grace proved to be one of the best players of the tournament: her shot-stopping, composure in high-pressure moments and consistent reliability helped New Zealand claim the title. Her performance especially stood out in the semi-final and the final, as both matches went into the shoot-outs, where O’Hanlon saved more attempts than she let in, to help New Zealand climb the top step of the podium!
At the Oceania Cup, O’Hanlon was instrumental in guiding New Zealand to victory over neighbours Australia, securing top-place in the tournament and thereby booking a berth at the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Her reflexes in the goal and leadership from the back created a foundation for the team’s success in that decisive moment.
Across both events, O’Hanlon staked her claim as one of the world’s elite goalkeepers, with her form providing the springboard for her team’s momentum into the World Cup cycle.
For these efforts, and the clear impact she has had on her team’s key successes, Grace O’Hanlon is a worthy recipient of the FIH Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Jean-Paul Danneberg (GER)
Jean-Paul Danneberg has enjoyed another season of excellence for the German Men’s Hockey Team, demonstrating that goalkeepers can be match-winners in their own right.
During the EuroHockey Championships, Germany lifted the trophy in dramatic fashion — a victory sealed in shoot-outs in which Danneberg played a starring role. His composure and ability to make saves in the biggest pressure moments were pivotal both in winning gold and securing qualification for the coming World Cup.
Alongside his continental triumph, Danneberg’s performances in the FIH Hockey Pro League also underlined his class. Week after week, he faced world-class opposition, commanding his circle, orchestrating defence, and producing momentum-shifting saves with consistency. His level of performance across the major events has marked him out as the premier goalkeeper in the world this season.
With his elite performances between the sticks directly influencing Germany’s success, Jean-Paul Danneberg is a fitting recipient of the FIH Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Source: FIH.hockey
