Hockey India Appoint Olympic Coach Frederic Soyez as Junior Men’s Team Head Coach Ahead of 2036 Vision

Hockey India on Thursday appointed experienced French coach Frederic Soyez as the new head coach of the Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team, continuing its long-term push towards building a stronger high-performance structure ahead of the 2036 Olympic Games.

Soyez arrives with more than three decades of elite hockey experience, having represented France internationally for 15 years before moving into coaching at the highest level of world hockey.

The Frenchman earned 196 caps and scored 195 goals for France during his playing career between 1995 and 2010. Since then, he has built an impressive coaching résumé that includes leading both Spain and France at the Olympic Games.

Soyez guided Spain at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics before taking charge of France at the Paris 2024 Games. During his time with Spain, he also helped the side secure a silver medal at the 2019 European Championships while reaching Olympic quarterfinals in both Rio and Tokyo.

One of his most notable achievements in youth development came at the 2013 FIH Junior Men's World Cup in Delhi, where he coached France to a historic silver medal finish. More recently, he led the French U-18 men's side to silver at the 2025 European Championships.

Apart from his international coaching experience, Soyez also served as the High-Performance Director of the French Hockey Federation from 2021 to 2024, overseeing athlete development and performance structures across the system.

His coaching career additionally includes appearances at two FIH Men's Hockey World Cups and six European Championships, underlining his extensive experience at the elite international level.

At the domestic level, Soyez enjoyed success with Lille MHC, guiding the club to French Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles along with EuroHockey Trophy Indoor and Outdoor crowns in 2012.

Hockey India believes the appointment aligns with the country's larger ambition of creating a sustainable pathway towards long-term Olympic success.

The federation has also continued integrating Indian coaches alongside international experts across senior, junior and sub-junior camps in an effort to maintain a consistent coaching philosophy across all levels.

Welcoming Soyez to Indian hockey, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, "We warmly welcome Frederic Soyez to the Hockey India family. Frederic comes with outstanding international credentials, having coached at multiple Olympic Games, World Cups, and European Championships, while also successfully developing young talent and high-performance systems. We believe his experience and skill set will greatly benefit Indian hockey as we continue to work towards a bigger long-term vision for the 2036 Olympics."

He further added, "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."

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also praised the appointment and highlighted Soyez's experience in talent development.

"Our vision is to create a seamless development pathway for Indian hockey players from the grassroots to the elite level. Frederic Soyez's track record in building competitive international teams and nurturing young athletes makes him an excellent addition to our setup," he said.

With India continuing to prioritise long-term athlete development and coaching continuity, Soyez's appointment is expected to play a key role in shaping the next generation of Indian hockey talent ahead of the 2036 Olympic cycle.