PR Sreejesh Successor: Frederic Soyez Takes Reins of India Junior Hockey
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Hockey India is betting big on international expertise with the appointment of Frederic Soyez from France as coach of the junior men’s hockey team. The decision comes as PR Sreejesh’s contract expires in December 2025, marking the end of an era.
Regarded among Europe’s top coaches, Soyez’s career spans player and mentor roles across three decades. He donned France’s colors for 15 years, scoring 195 goals in 196 games from 1995-2010. As a coach, he’s helmed France and Spain’s senior men’s teams, featuring in Olympics at Rio, Tokyo, and Paris.
His trophy cabinet shines with Spain’s 2019 Euro silver and quarterfinal runs in two Olympics, plus France’s historic 2013 Junior World Cup silver in Delhi. Just recently, he led France’s U18 team to 2025 European silver. Soyez also served as France’s High-Performance Director until 2024.
Hockey India’s release highlights how this hire supports the national push for 2036 Olympic medals and sports independence by integrating global best practices. The federation’s focus on elite coaching aims to supercharge India’s hockey pipeline. With Soyez at the helm, the junior squad is set to elevate its game on the world stage.
