Spain head coach Max Caldas was named the FIH Men’s Coach of the Year following a stellar year in which the Red Sticks medaled at the EuroHockey Championships and landed a World Cup spot.

Blending experience with emerging talent, Spain showcased a confident, attacking style while demonstrating tactical maturity in major competitions, producing a string of impressive results to match their growing stature in international hockey. 

The team registered headline wins in the FIH Hockey Pro League over the likes of Australia, England, India and Belgium.

The biggest highlight of thay season however came at the very end, where they needed two back-to-back wins in their final two matches against Germany, in Berlin to finish third on the points table and qualify for the World Cup.

Caldas’ side delivered in front of the loud Berlin crowd cheering on the home side to get the result they needed.

Their EuroHockey Championship campaign also led to a bronze medal finish, just their second podium place finish in the competition since 2007, capping a fantastic year for Caldas’ side. 

With a renewed playing style and clear strategic direction, Spain enters the next phase of the global hockey cycle with strong momentum, thanks to the stellar coaching job done by Max Caldas’, who has married Spain’s traditional attacking flair with consistent results against top international hockey sides. 

On the women’s side, Alyson Annan was the winner for her work with China, finishing in fourth place in the Pro League and then won gold at the Asian Cup.

This is Annan’s sixth time receiving an FIH Coach of the Year award, extending her own record as the most decorated coach across at the Hockey Stars Awards, while she continues to hold the unique distinction of also being the only former FIH Player of the Year (1998 & 2000) to also receive an FIH Coach of the Year award.