Frederic Soyez Appointed as Coach of Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team
New Leadership for Indian Junior Men's Hockey
Photo: @ians_india/X
New Delhi, May 14: Hockey India has officially named Frederic Soyez, a highly regarded French coach, as the new head coach for the Indian junior men's hockey team.
With over 30 years of experience in elite hockey, including a 15-year international playing career with France, Soyez is recognized as one of the top coaches in European hockey.
During his playing days from 1995 to 2010, he earned 196 caps and scored 195 goals for the French national team. He has also coached the national teams of both France and Spain.
Soyez has participated in three Olympic Games, having led Spain in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and is set to guide France in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Under his leadership, Spain secured a silver medal at the 2019 European Championships and reached the quarter-finals in both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
In 2013, he coached France to a remarkable silver medal at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup held in Delhi and recently led the French U18 Men’s Team to a silver medal at the 2025 European Championships. From 2021 to 2024, he served as the High-Performance Director for the French Hockey Federation, overseeing athlete development and high-performance initiatives.
Soyez's coaching experience includes participation in two FIH Men’s Hockey World Cups (2018, 2023) and six European Championships (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), showcasing his extensive background at the international level. At the club level, he led Lille MHC to win both the French Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles in 2012, as well as the EuroHockey Trophy titles that same year.
Hockey India emphasized that Soyez’s appointment aligns with the Indian government's goal of establishing a robust pathway for Olympic success and self-reliance ahead of the 2036 Olympics. The organization aims to enhance the hockey ecosystem in India by attracting top coaching talent from around the globe.
Soyez takes over from P.R. Sreejesh, whose contract ended in December 2025.
Furthermore, Hockey India is committed to developing Indian coaches alongside international experts. This strategy includes integrating Indian coaches into all national camps to ensure knowledge transfer and continuity across various levels of the sport.
This approach aims to create a cohesive coaching philosophy throughout all age groups, allowing players to transition smoothly from sub-junior to junior and senior levels while maintaining a consistent style of play and training methodology. Hockey India believes this integrated strategy will cultivate a broader talent pool leading up to the 2036 Olympics.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey welcomed Soyez, stating, “Frederic brings exceptional international experience, having coached at multiple Olympic Games, World Cups, and European Championships, while also successfully nurturing young talent. We are confident that his expertise will significantly benefit Indian hockey as we pursue our long-term vision for the 2036 Olympics.”
He further noted, “Our focus extends beyond immediate outcomes; we aim to build a deep talent pool and a coaching framework that remains consistent from sub-junior to senior levels. By incorporating Indian coaches alongside international experts in every national camp, we are ensuring continuity in coaching philosophy, player development, and tactical understanding. This collaborative effort will also enhance the capabilities of Indian coaches and foster a self-sustaining high-performance ecosystem for the future.”
Additionally, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh remarked, “Frederic Soyez's proven ability to build competitive international teams and develop young athletes makes him a valuable addition to our program. His appointment will not only enhance the junior men’s program but also contribute to our broader goal of establishing a sustainable talent pool for Indian hockey in the years ahead.”