After PR Sreejesh's fiery exit, Hockey India appoint Frederic Soyez as Jr.team coach

Hockey India appointed Frederic Soyez as coach of the junior men's team a day after PR Sreejesh's exit from the role. Soyez comes in with a big reputation, having worked as the head coach of Spain and France before.

In Short

• Sreejesh said he was sidelined despite strong results in 18 months
• Soyez comes in with reputation as a developer of young talent
• Soyez previously led Spain and France at three Olympic campaigns

Hockey India on Thursday, May 14, announced the appointment of Frederic Soyez as the Coach of the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team. The decision comes after PR Sreejesh's unceremonious exit from the role on Wednesday, where he slammed the federation for sacking him in favour of a foreign tactician.

The legendary goalkeeper openly criticised Hockey India for continuing to favour overseas coaches after confirming that his role with the Indian junior men’s hockey side has come to an end. In a pointed statement shared on social media on May 13, Sreejesh suggested he had been sidelined despite producing strong results during his tenure.

Widely regarded as one of India’s most promising homegrown coaching candidates following his retirement from international hockey, Sreejesh voiced disappointment over how his stint concluded after only 18 months at the helm of the junior setup.

WHO IS FREDERIC SOYEZ?

Soyez comes in with a big reputation, having coached the France and Spain national teams during his tenure as a coach. He coached Spain at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics before being at the helm for France at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

During his tenure with Spain, Soyez guided them to a Silver Medal at the 2019 European Championships, while also helping the side to quarterfinal finishes at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.

Recognised for his ability to nurture emerging players, Soyez led France to a landmark silver medal finish at the 2013 FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in Delhi. More recently, he guided the French U-18 men’s side to a runner-up finish at the 2025 European Championships.

Beyond his coaching responsibilities, Soyez also worked as the High-Performance Director of the French Hockey Federation between 2021 and 2024, playing a key role in shaping the nation’s elite athlete development and performance programmes.

His extensive experience further includes involvement in two editions of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, in 2018 and 2023, along with six European Championships spanning from 2013 to 2023.

WHAT HI SAID ABOUT SOYEZ' APPOINTMENT

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said that the appointment of Soyez comes on the back of putting focus on immediate results and building a deep talent pool and coaching structure.

“Our focus is not only on immediate results but also on building a deep talent pool and a coaching structure that remains aligned from sub-junior to senior level. By integrating Indian coaches alongside international experts in every national camp across all levels, we are ensuring continuity in coaching philosophy, player development, and tactical understanding. This collaborative approach will also play a vital role in strengthening the capabilities of Indian coaches and creating a more self-sustaining high-performance ecosystem for the future,” said Tirkey in the statement.

HI had claimed that they hadn't fired Sreejesh from his role and that his contract had come to an end.

- Ends