On 14 May 2026, Hockey India officially appointed decorated Frenchman Frederic Soyez as the chief coach of the Indian junior men's hockey team. He succeeds former star goalkeeper and two-time Olympic medallist P. R. Sreejesh, whose 17-month contract expired. The transition of leadership in the Indian junior men's hockey team features a public disagreement over coaching strategy alongside a highly calculated appointment aimed at the 2036 Olympic Games. Hockey India used an open, merit-based selection process to filter international candidates, ultimately choosing the 48-year-old Soyez due to specific tactical gaps in the Indian system.
Soyez is globally recognized for his elite technical mastery of penalty corner execution and defense. This has historically been a volatile area for Indian junior squads. Soyez possesses a Master's degree in Sports Management. He served as the High-Performance Director for the French Hockey Federation from 2021 to 2024, giving him first-hand experience in designing elite structural pipelines.
Beyond his senior exploits, he coached the French Under-18 men's team to a silver medal at the 2025 European Championships, proving his contemporary relevance with junior athletes. Soyez has extensive experience navigating Indian conditions. He previously coached teams at major events hosted in India, including the 2013 Junior World Cup in New Delhi and the 2023 Senior World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
🚨 JUST IN 🚨 India has officially appointed decorated Frenchman Frederic Soyez as the chief coach of the national junior men’s hockey team, replacing two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh. Sreejesh, a former star goalkeeper, was removed from his role just after 17 months,… pic.twitter.com/eHyeQH5D9x
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) May 14, 2026
Former hockey coach PR Sreejesh publicly slams Hockey India
The legendary former goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh publicly slammed Hockey India, venting frustration that he was removed specifically to clear a path for a foreign coach. He emphasized his stellar track record, having won five medals in five tournaments during his 17-month stint. This included a bronze medal at the FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai, a gold medal at the Junior Asia Cup, and a podium finish at the Sultan of Johor Cup.
Sreejesh cited pressure from senior coach Craig Fulton to adopt a foreign-led philosophy. Furthermore, he argued this move contradicts the government's vision of promoting Indian coaches for the 2036 goal, as stated by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Also Read | Sarah Taylor scripts history; becomes England Men’s Test fielding coach for New Zealand Series
“It seems like my coaching career comes to an end after 1.5 years, during which we played five tournaments and secured five podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal,” Sreejesh wrote
It’s seems like My coaching career comes to an end after 1.5 years, during which we played 5 tournaments and secured 5 podium finishes, including a Junior World Cup bronze medal. I have heard about coaches getting fired after bad performances. But this is the first time I am…
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) May 13, 2026
Federation President Dilip Tirkey vehemently denied firing Sreejesh. He clarified that Sreejesh’s contract naturally concluded in December 2025. According to Turkey, Hockey India offered Sreejesh the head coach position for the India "A" / Development Team to prepare talent for Los Angeles 2028. Sreejesh officially declined the offer and refused to reconsider.
