Graham Reid appointed Indian hockey team coach

New Delhi: Australian Graham Reid's appointment as the men's national team chief coach till the end of 2020 was ratified on Monday after Hockey India received necessary clearance from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Reid's appointment was more or less certain after Hockey India recommended his name to the SAI last month.

It has been learnt that Reid has been handed a term till the end of next year, but his tenure can be extended till the 2022 World Cup depending upon his performance.

According to a Hockey India official, Reid is expected to draw a salary of $15,000 per month and will be shifting base to Bengaluru with his family.

"Reid's tenure will be till the end of next year. As per industry standards, every international coach's contract is supposed to be for an Olympic cycle.

"But his contract will have a provision of extension till 2022. Everything will depend on India's performances leading up to the Tokyo Olympics," the official told PTI.

The official also said that Reid will soon join the ongoing national camp, whih began on Monday, at the SAI South Centre in Bengaluru.

The Indian chief coach's position has been lying vacant after the unceremonious sacking of Harendra Singh in January following a less-than-impressive quarterfinal exit at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar last year.

Reid had a decorated playing career for the Australian national team and was part of the silver medal-winning team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

He was also part of the Australian squad that won back-to-back Champions Trophy titles in 1984 and 1985 as well as 1989 and 1990.

With 130 international caps, Reid took to coaching when he was appointed Australia's assistant coach in 2009. He was later elevated to the head coach's position and he guided the Australian team to their fifth consecutive Champions Trophy title in 2012.

Reid was named head coach in 2014 where he contributed to Australian squad's reign as the world No.1 team.

Under his guidance, Australia won the HWL SemiFinal in Antwerp and went on to win the HWL Final in Raipur the same year.

A member of the Queensland Hockey Hall of Fame, Reid moved to the Netherlands in 2017 to serve as the head coach of Amsterdam Club, which he was part of as a player in 1993 and 1994.

In his recent stint, he worked as the assistant coach for the Netherlands team, who won the silver medal at the 2018 World Cup.

'Honour and privilege'

Expressing his delight over taking on a new assignment, Reid said:"It's an honour and a privilege to be appointed as chief coach of the Indian men's hockey team. No other country has a history in this sport that can compare to India.

"As an opposition coach, I have enjoyed watching first hand, the steady rise of the Indian team to one of the most exciting and threatening teams in world hockey. I have a passion for the fast and attacking brand of hockey that India plays which marries closely with the Australian style.

"I am looking forward to working with Hockey India, SAI, MYAS (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports), team Support Staff and players with the continuation of positive development of the team in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics. My wife will also be moving to India in August and we are very happy to be making a home in Bengaluru," he added.

Hockey India president Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad added: "Graham Reid is backed by a successful career as a player and also comes with strong coaching experience, having worked with the Australian and the Netherlands national teams.

"We are hopeful his experience and expertise will help the Indian men's hockey team achieve desirable results leading up to and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics."