Florian Kunz

Florian Kunz (born February 22, 1972 in Leverkusen) is a former field hockey defender from Germany, who captained the Men's National Team to Germany's first world title at the 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He took to hockey at the age of five and made his international debut in 1994, when he participated in the 1994 Champions Trophy in Lahore, where Germany finished in second place.

The following year, Kunz played in the 1995 Men's Hockey European Nations Cup in Dublin and the Champions Trophy in Berlin, where Germany emerged champions on both occasions. Minor differences with coach Paul Lissek kept him on the sidelines but he was granted another chance in 1999, and fully justified his inclusion as Germany won the European Nations Cup in Padua. In 2000 he was once again a member of the German team who finished runners-up in the Champions Trophy in Amstelveen, and secured the fifth position at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Nicknamed "Floh", he almost single-handedly took Germany to the title at the 2001 Champions Trophy in Rotterdam.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches in his socks, Kunz indeed is a towering figure. He is also a bit superstitious. Having been unable to strike form early in the 2002 Hockey World Cup, he contacted his girlfriend back home who managed to send him his favourite hockey stick through Michael Green's mother. Two quick goals against Pakistan with this stick brought back the smile on his face. Though rated as the best player in the world, Kunz is never over-confident. In the match against the Netherlands, he sought coach Bernhard Peters' advice following the award of a penalty corner. A bit worried about his lack of form, Peters asked Kunz to try out Björn Michel. Kunz heeded the advice and Michel dutifully converted.

Employed as an estate agent, Kunz played club hockey for Gladbacher HTC. In 2002 he was named "FIH World Hockey Player of the Year 2001", alongside Argentina's female star midfielder Luciana Aymar. He resigned after having won the bronze medal with the Germans at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

References

* [http://www.hockey-olympia.de/Default.aspx?tabid=251 Hockey Olympia Germany]