Argentina women's national field hockey team

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Argentina
Nickname(s)Las Leonas (The Lionesses)
AssociationConfederación Argentina de Hockey (CAH)
ConfederationPAHF (Americas)
Head CoachFernando Ferrara
Assistant coach(es)Mario Almada
Santiago Capurro
Alejandra Gulla
ManagerMaría Villalba
CaptainAgostina Alonso
Rocío Sánchez Moccia
Victoria Sauze
Most capsLuciana Aymar (376)
Top scorerNoel Barrionuevo (185)
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away
FIH ranking
Current 2 Increase 1 (12 March 2024)[1]
Highest1st (2003 – 2010 – 2011)
Lowest4 (2018)
Olympic Games
Appearances8 (first in 1988)
Best result2nd (2000, 2012, 2020)
World Cup
Appearances15 (first in 1974)
Best result1st (2002, 2010)
Pan American Games
Appearances9 (first in 1987)
Best result1st (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2019)
Pan American Cup
Appearances6 (first in 2001)
Best result1st (2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022)

The Argentina women's national field hockey team (Spanish: Selección femenina de hockey sobre césped de Argentina) is governed by the Argentine Hockey Confederation (CAH). The current coach is Fernando Ferrara, who was appointed after Carlos Retegui let go in late 2021. The team is currently second in the FIH Women's World Ranking.

Las Leonas (The Lionesses) have appeared in six Hockey World Cup finals, including the first final in 1974, which they lost 1–0 to the Netherlands. Argentina had to settle with second place in two more finals before winning the tournament for the first time in 2002, beating the Netherlands 4–3 in the final on penalty strokes after a 1–1 draw. Argentina, led by eight-time FIH Player of the Year Luciana Aymar won again in 2010, a 3–1 victory over the Netherlands. Argentina's World Cup-winning coaches are Sergio Vigil in 2002 and Carlos Retegui in 2010.

Argentina has been very successful at the Summer Olympics, winning four consecutive medals (two silver, two bronze) since the 2000 edition, when they became the first women's team in any sport to win an Olympic medal for their country. Luciana Aymar is the only player that has participated and won those four medals. Also, after their first title in 2001 at a Hockey Champions Trophy, they have won the tournament six more times. In front of a home crowd, they won the 2014–15 Hockey World League as the first international title after Aymar's retirement from the national team the previous year.

At a continental level, Argentina has dominated and won every tournament they played, including the Pan American Cup and the Pan American Games leaving the United States with second place on most events until they lost the 2011 Pan American Games final for the first time.

In July 2003, after the implementation of an official World Ranking System, Argentina reached the top of the FIH Women's World Ranking for the first time, reaching it again in 2010 after obtaining the World Cup title and once more in late 2013.

History[edit]

Hockey was introduced in Argentina by English immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century, and the first women's teams were officially formed in 1909.[2] In 1997, Sergio Vigil, a former player for the men's national team, was appointed coach. Under his leadership, Las Leonas achieved their first World Hockey Cup title, their first Olympic medals, their first Champions Trophy medals, and many other achievements. The team went from having a rather limited audience to becoming a national sensation, with some of the players even appearing as models in advertising campaigns.

Nickname[edit]

Throughout its history, the team has developed a reputation for being tenacious even when a match appears to be lost. For this reason, a lioness was chosen as their symbol when the team qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics. During the second round of games, Argentina played against the powerful Dutch team, and they chose this occasion to place the image of a lioness on their shirts for the first time.

The image was designed by then-player Inés Arrondo together with Vigil's sister-in-law.[3] Argentina won that match, went on to win the silver medal, and Las Leonas were born. Subsequently, the junior (under 21) team is called Las Leoncitas ("the baby lionesses" or "the lioness cubs").

The lioness logo was redesigned in 2006 by the team kit supplier, Adidas, along with Confederación Argentina de Hockey and even some of the most representative players. This is slightly different from the original, showing the lioness' tail pretending to be a hockey stick while holding a ball.[4]

The nickname also falls in line with an unwritten Argentine tradition of naming national teams after big cats: the men's field hockey team is called Los Leones ("The Lions"), the men's rugby union team is called Los Pumas ("The Pumas"), and the women's volleyball team is known as Las Panteras ("The Panthers").

Tournament records[edit]

World Cup[5]
Year Host city Position
1974 France Mandelieu, France 2nd
1976 West Germany Berlin, West Germany 2nd
1978 Spain Madrid, Spain 3rd
1981 Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina 6th
1983 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9th
1986 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands 7th
1990 Australia Sydney, Australia 9th
1994 Republic of Ireland Dublin, Ireland 2nd
1998 Netherlands Utrecht, Netherlands 4th
2002 Australia Perth, Australia 1st
2006 Spain Madrid, Spain 3rd
2010 Argentina Rosario, Argentina 1st
2014 Netherlands The Hague, Netherlands 3rd
2018 England London, England 7th
2022 Spain Terrassa, Spain
Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands
2nd
2026 Belgium Wavre, Belgium
Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands
TBQ
Pan American Cup[6]
Year Host city Position
2001 Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica 1st
2004 Barbados Bridgetown, Barbados 1st
2009 Bermuda Hamilton, Bermuda 1st
2013 Argentina Mendoza, Argentina 1st
2017 United States Lancaster, United States 1st
2022 Chile Santiago, Chile 1st
2025 Uruguay Montevideo, Uruguay TBQ
South American Championship[7]
Year Host city Position
2003 Chile Santiago, Chile 1st
2008 Uruguay Montevideo, Uruguay 1st
2010 Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1st
2013 Chile Santiago, Chile 1st
World League[11]
Year Final host city Position
2012–13 Argentina San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina 4th
2014–15 Argentina Rosario, Argentina 1st
2016–17 New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand 5th
Champions Trophy[12]
Year Host city Position
1995 Argentina Mar del Plata, Argentina 6th
1999 Australia Brisbane, Australia 4th
2000 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 4th
2001 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 1st
2002 Macau Macau, China 2nd
2003 Australia Sydney, Australia 4th
2004 Argentina Rosario, Argentina 3rd
2005 Australia Canberra, Australia 4th
2006 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 4th
2007 Argentina Quilmes, Argentina 2nd
2008 Germany Mönchengladbach, Germany 1st
2009 Australia Sydney, Australia 1st
2010 England Nottingham, England 1st
2011 Netherlands Amstelveen, Netherlands 2nd
2012 Argentina Rosario, Argentina 1st
2014 Argentina Mendoza, Argentina 1st
2016 United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 1st
2018 China Changzhou, China 3rd

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called to compete at the 2023-24 Pro League window against Belgium and Germany between February 14th and 19th in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

Players, caps and goals updated as of 20 February 2024.

Head coach: Fernando Ferrara

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
13 1GK Cristina Cosentino (1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 (age 26) 36 Argentina Banco Nación
14 1GK Clara Barberi (1992-04-19) 19 April 1992 (age 31) 26 Argentina Lomas

3 2DF Agustina Gorzelany (1996-03-11) 11 March 1996 (age 28) 108 64 Argentina San Martín
4 2DF Valentina Raposo (2003-01-28) 28 January 2003 (age 21) 43 7 Argentina River Plate
16 2DF Bárbara Dichiara (1996-11-13) 13 November 1996 (age 27) 29 1 Argentina San Fernando
50 2DF Juana Castellaro (2005-03-29) 29 March 2005 (age 18) 13 0 Argentina River Plate

2 3MF Sofía Toccalino (1997-03-20) 20 March 1997 (age 27) 161 12 Argentina St. Catherine's
5 3MF Agostina Alonso (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 (age 28) 149 7 Argentina Banco Nación
17 3MF Rocío Sánchez Moccia (1988-08-02) 2 August 1988 (age 35) 314 20 Argentina Puerto Nizuc
18 3MF Victoria Sauze (1991-07-21) 21 July 1991 (age 32) 141 3 Argentina River Plate
20 3MF Sofía Cairó (2002-10-08) 8 October 2002 (age 21) 20 4 Argentina Mariano Moreno
26 3MF Pilar Campoy (1990-10-06) 6 October 1990 (age 33) 89 23 Argentina Hacoaj
29 3MF Victoria Miranda (2000-06-05) 5 June 2000 (age 23) 17 0 Argentina Ciudad
36 3MF Stefanía Antoniazzi (1999-10-18) 18 October 1999 (age 24) 7 0 Argentina GEBA
45 3MF Catalina Andrade (2002-02-07) 7 February 2002 (age 22) 13 3 Argentina Italiano

7 4FW Agustina Albertario (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 (age 31) 224 62 Argentina Lomas
10 4FW María José Granatto (1995-04-21) 21 April 1995 (age 28) 197 100 Argentina Santa Bárbara
19 4FW Victoria Manuele (2001-05-04) 4 May 2001 (age 22) 6 1 Argentina Santa Bárbara
22 4FW Eugenia Trinchinetti (1997-07-17) 17 July 1997 (age 26) 171 34 Argentina San Fernando
24 4FW Celina di Santo (2000-02-23) 23 February 2000 (age 24) 24 2 Argentina Lomas
28 4FW Julieta Jankunas (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999 (age 25) 163 60 Argentina Universitario de Córdoba
61 4FW Lara Casas (2004-06-22) 22 June 2004 (age 19) 3 0 Argentina Italiano

Recent call-ups[edit]

These players were called up in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Ana Luz Dodorico (2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 (age 24) 4 Argentina GEBA (2023-06-20)20 June 2023, v.  New Zealand
GK Lourdes Pérez Iturraspe (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 24) 0 Argentina CASI 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie

DF Lucina von der Heyde (1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 27) 103 9 Germany Mannheimer HC 2023 Spain friendly matches serie
DF Valentina Costa Biondi (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28) 91 9 Argentina San Fernando (2023-12-08)8 December 2023, v.  Netherlands
DF Bianca Donati (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 (age 28) 43 2 Argentina Pacífico (2023-12-11)11 December 2023, v.  Netherlands
DF Sol Lombardo (1999-03-10) 10 March 1999 (age 25) 15 0 Argentina Italiano 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie
DF Micaela Sirera (2001-04-09) 9 April 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Argentina Italiano 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie

MF Jimena Cedrés (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 31) 125 7 Belgium Dragons 2023 Spain friendly matches serie
MF Paula Ortiz (1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 26) 86 7 Spain RC Polo Barcelona 2023 Spain friendly matches serie
MF Valentina Marcucci (1998-02-21) 21 February 1998 (age 26) 30 0 Argentina Lomas (2023-12-09)9 December 2023, v.  Great Britain
MF Constanza Cerundolo (2000-06-19) 19 June 2000 (age 23) 9 1 Argentina Belgrano 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie
MF Mariana Pineda (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Argentina Vélez 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie

FW Delfina Thome (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 27) 56 17 Argentina Liceo Rugby Club (2023-12-11)11 December 2023, v.  Netherlands
FW Guadalupe Adorno (2000-02-21) 21 February 2000 (age 24) 12 8 Argentina Quilmes (2023-06-17)17 June 2023, v.  New Zealand
FW Gianella Palet (2002-02-26) 26 February 2002 (age 22) 5 2 Argentina River Plate 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie
FW Lucía Sanguinetti (1995-10-30) 30 October 1995 (age 28) 5 0 Argentina San Fernando 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie
FW Alina Piccardo (1997-06-03) 3 June 1997 (age 26) 4 2 Argentina San Fernando (2023-12-08)8 December 2023, v.  Netherlands
FW Carolina Carrizo (1997-03-11) 11 March 1997 (age 27) 2 0 Argentina SAG (2023-12-09)9 December 2023, v.  Great Britain
FW Juana Fajardo (1998-03-25) 25 March 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Argentina Lomas 2023 Uruguay friendly matches serie

Past players[edit]

Not in use jersey numbers[edit]

Luciana Aymar, eight-time FIH Player of the Year Award, considered as the best female hockey player of all time[14][15]

When Luciana Aymar (eight-time FIH Player of the Year Award winner and regarded as the best player in the history of the sport),[16][14][15] retired from the national team in 2014 after 376 international matches played, some of Aymar's teammates (such as Carla Rebecchi[17][18]) asked the Confederation for the retirement of her iconic number 8 worn by her during 17 years with the national team.[19] Nevertheless, the number is not officially retired by the CAH, although it has not been assigned to other players since.

Captains[edit]

Period Captain Vice-captain
1997–2002 Karina Masotta Magdalena Aicega
2003–2005 Magdalena Aicega Cecilia Rognoni
2006–2008 Luciana Aymar
2009–2014 Luciana Aymar Rosario Luchetti
2014–2015 Macarena Rodríguez Carla Rebecchi
2015–2017 Carla Rebecchi Belén Succi
2017–2019 Belén Succi Delfina Merino
2019–2020 Rosario Luchetti Silvina D'Elía
Carla Rebecchi
2021 Noel Barrionuevo Delfina Merino
2022 Agostina Alonso
Delfina Merino
Rocío Sánchez Moccia
Victoria Sauze
2023-Present Agostina Alonso
Rocío Sánchez Moccia
Victoria Sauze
María José Granatto

Coaches[edit]

Sergio Vigil, with whom Las Leonas won 7 titles and 2 Olympic medals
Period Name
1986–1991 Miguel MacCormik
1991–1997 Rodolfo Mendoza
1997–2004 Sergio Vigil
2004–2009 Gabriel Minadeo
2009–2012 Carlos Retegui
2012–2013 Marcelo Garraffo
2013 Emanuel Roggero
2013–2014 Carlos Retegui (2nd cycle)
2014–2015 Santiago Capurro
2015–2017 Gabriel Minadeo (2nd cycle)
2017–2018 Agustín Corradini
2018–2021 Carlos Retegui (3rd cycle)
2021–present Fernando Ferrara

Honours[edit]

Since its breakthrough in the 2000 Summer Olympics (where the team nicknamed "Las Leonas"' for the first time),[20] Argentina has won more than 20 official titles, which are detailed below:

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • The team alternates between light blue and black skirt/socks when using their main kit, even during the same tournament, apparently arbitrarily. For example, during the 2010 World Cup, see photos from Day 1 (black), Day 3 (light blue) and Day 6 (black).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "FIH Outdoor World Hockey Rankings". FIH. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  2. ^ (in Spanish) History of the Argentine Hockey Confederation Archived 11 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ (in Spanish) Interview with Inés Arrondo Archived 19 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine by DeporTEA Press, 10 August 2010.
  4. ^ "90+10 Empresas: Adidas presentó el nuevo logo de las Leonas" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010., 29 September 2006.
  5. ^ "Home – FIH".
  6. ^ "Pan American Cups". Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b "South American Championships". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Home – FIH".
  9. ^ "Pan American Games". Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  10. ^ "FIH confirms Spain men and Belgium women join Hockey Pro League". FIH.
  11. ^ "Home – FIH".
  12. ^ "Home – FIH".
  13. ^ A Magui Aicega le llegó la hora del adiós tras 15 años de éxitos on La Prensa, 22 Aug 2008
  14. ^ a b Top 10 greatest field hockey players, The Telegraph, 5 January 2015
  15. ^ a b It's all about Aymar by Melina Gaspar, on The Hockey Family, 10 August 2017
  16. ^ Luciana Aymar profile on CAH website
  17. ^ Piden retirar la camiseta Nº 8 de Luciana Aymar on Rosario3, 8 Dec 2014
  18. ^ Rebecchi pidió retirar la camiseta número 8 de Luciana Aymar on Télam, 8 Dec 2014
  19. ^ Rebecchi pidió retirar la camiseta número 8, Télam, 8 December 2014
  20. ^ "El nacimiento de Las Leonas", CanchaLlena, 24 September 2010
  21. ^ "Igual son de oro", Clarín, 30 September 2000
  22. ^ "Las Leonas perdieron y tuvieron que conformarse con la de plata" by Sabrina Faija, Clarín, 12 August 2012
  23. ^ ""Las Leonas son campeonas mundiales y un verdadero orgullo de la Argentina", Los Andes, 11 September 2010". Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2013.

External links[edit]