How Spain Men’s Team Turned into a Formidable Outfit under coach Max Caldas
Spain men’s hockey team made a ‘statement’ of sorts at the 2024 Paris Olympics – a fourth-place finish at the showpiece event was probably enough to convince all and sundry that they are a side that is right up there with the best in the business. The Redsticks have really looked a ‘transformed unit’ under coach Max Caldas. The Argentine, who has attained a fair amount of success with the Netherland women’s hockey team (guiding them to glory at the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Cup at The Hague), has been able to turn the red brigade into a formidable outfit since taking over from Frenchman Frederic Soyez (former France national team captain) after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
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Of course, Spain’s 2024 Paris Olympics campaign did not kick-off as they might have liked – a tame 0-4 defeat to Great Britain in the Olympic opener was certainly not what the doctor ordered but the Redsticks brushed aside their ‘Olympic opener blues’ and subsequently upset Germany 2-0 as well as fought hard before losing 3-5 to the Netherlands in the pool phase. It was the Olympic quarterfinals, where Spain turned on the style, springing a surprising a 3-2 win over reigning Olympic champions Belgium – however, they were outplayed by the Netherlands in the semifinal.
Not many may realize that this 3-2 win was a kind of Spain exacting sweet revenge over the Red Lions for their 1-3 defeat to them in the quarterfinal of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Spain fought tooth and nail against India in the bronze medal play-off tie before going down by the odd goal in three. Clearly, the Redsticks have shown distinct improvement under coach Max Caldas – an Olympic fourth-place finish is surely a massive improvement from their eight-place finish at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics under coach Frederic Soyez.
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The ‘Paris performance’ left no one in doubt that Spain is working its way to regain its best days in world hockey (they have been Olympic runners-up thrice) – the ‘Paris effort’ was close to Spain reaching the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they lost to Germany by a solitary goal – at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the Redsticks had lost to the Netherlands in the final besides losing to India 3-4 at the 1980 Moscow Olympics – they have also won a bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Spain’s upsurge in world hockey is not just about ‘one big effort at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Redsticks have shown that they have the ammunition and dollops of self-belief to beat any top side in the world. They have improved in leaps and bounds and finished 5th in the 2022–23 Pro League.
The glimpses of 8th ranked Spain marking a serious arrival in top-level world hockey can be gauged from their stupendous Pro League performances. At the 2023-24 edition, Spain twice pipped world number 2 Germany by 3-0 and 4-2 margins, respectively at London – they also gave mighty Netherlands a run for their at Rourkela, going down by the odd goal in seven. The Max-Caldas-coached side have been consistently beating top sides. At the 2022–23 edition, much like the 2023-2024 edition, Spain once again twice prevailed over higher ranked Germany by 4-3 and 3-1 margins, respectively at Antwerp. The Redsticks handed Australia two defeats in their own backyard at Hobart, winning 4-2 and 3-1 respectively. It is not always that Australian men lose back-to-back international games. Spain looked in fine fettle against world number 1 Netherlands at London, losing narrowly 2-3 – in the second leg, they held the Dutch to a 2-2 draw before being out-duelled in the shootout.
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Spanish men have showcased that a lot has changed for the better under coach Max Caldas when they finished 6th at the 2023 World Cup at Bhubaneshwar – they made Australia sweat in the quarterfinal before losing 3-4 after leading 2-0 at one stage, close to half-time before three goals in five minutes by the Kookaburras poured cold water on their World Cup aspirations. A 6th place-finish at the 2023 World Cup to some extent, vindicated the move by the Royal Spanish Hockey Association to install Max Caldas as coach to replace Frederick Soyez – it was seen a huge improvement from their rather dismal 13th place finish at the 2018 World Cup under Soyez.
Reputed Spanish hockey coach and the man, who guided the Spanish women’s team to glory at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, believes Spain men’s team are a vastly improving side and can only get better. “Spain had one of the youngest sides around at the 2024 Paris Olympics – the side did not have many outstanding players but they had plenty of young players, who rose to the occasion. We can hope for great things from the Redsticks in the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics,” says Brasa in a chat with Hockey Passion.
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Brasa, who had served as coach of the Indian men’s hockey team between 2009 and 2010, and helped the national side bag bronze medals at the 2010 Asian Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games, attributed Spain’s resurgence in world hockey to coach Max Caldas. “Like I said earlier Spain men’s team do not many outstanding players but we have an outstanding coach in Max Caldas. Caldas deserves all the credit for bringing the Spain men’s team together and delivering a 4th place performance, which is a huge improvement from our 2021 Tokyo Olympics campaign. It is because of his coaching credentials that Spain reached the Olympics semifinals for the first time in 16 years. I just hope that Caldas continues with the Spanish team for a long time to come. A podium finish at the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics is not beyond us with Caldas around – we also have to factor in that many of these current young players would mature, which is a good augury for the team, says the 73-year-old Spaniard, who is currently based in Belgium as coach of Old Club of Liege.
Spain’s Biggest Wins Under Coach Max Caldas
| Match Outcome | Tournament & Timeline |
| Beat Belgium 3-2 | 2024 Paris Olympics |
| Beat Germany 2-0 | 2024 Paris Olympics |
| Beat Germany 4-2 | 2023-24 Pro League at London |
| Beat Germany 3-0 | 2023-24 Pro League at London |
| Beat Australia 4-2 | 2022-23 Pro League at Hobart |
| Beat Australia 3-1 | 2022-23 Pro League at Hobart |
| Beat Germany 3-1 | 2022-23 Pro League at Antwerp |
| Beat Germany 4-3 | 2022-23 Pro League at Antwerp |
