Olympian Manuel Frederick, who ignited India’s hockey dreams and secured Kerala’s inaugural Olympic medal, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025, at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He had bravely battled fourth-stage cancer.
A native of Kannur, the 78-year-old hockey icon had made Bengaluru his home for many years. As a pivotal member of the Indian hockey team that clinched a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Frederick etched his name in history as the first Malayali to achieve Olympic glory. Renowned for his lightning-quick reflexes and fearless presence in goal, he earned endearing monikers like “The Ghost” and “Tiger” from his devoted fans.
Despite his remarkable performance in Munich, where India conceded a minimal number of goals across six matches, Frederick was surprisingly overlooked for the prestigious Arjuna award. It took nearly five decades for his contributions to be formally recognized when he was finally bestowed with the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2019, an honor that followed eight prior rejections. He also faced repeated oversight for the Padma Shri, despite his applications over the last decade.
Frederick’s Olympic legacy remains unparalleled in Kerala. Of the state’s three Olympic medals, he claimed one, while the other two were earned by fellow hockey goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh at the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, both also bronze medals.
Throughout his illustrious eight-year international career, Frederick proudly represented India in one Olympic Games, two World Cups, and numerous other tournaments. His achievements include a silver medal at the 1973 World Cup in the Netherlands, a fourth-place finish in the 1978 Argentina World Cup, and victories in eight additional international competitions.
After completing his schooling in Kannur, Frederick joined the Indian Army in 1965 through the Army Sports Control Board, subsequently playing for the Services team, Mohun Bagan, and Bombay.
In an era predating widespread protective gear, Frederick valiantly guarded the goalpost with minimal equipment, relying solely on his innate instincts and immense courage. His philosophy, as recalled by sports commentator and close friend V. Devdas, was profound in its simplicity: “If a defender makes a mistake, another can cover, but if a goalkeeper errors, it’s a goal, and if a goalkeeper leaves more than two goals, he is not fit to be a goalkeeper.”
Mr. Devdas lamented, “Despite being the first Malayali to win a medal in the Olympics, the State government did not give him due recognition by giving the highest honour or naming a ground in his name.” He further added that even after retirement, Frederick’s dedication to the sport never wavered. He continued to coach aspiring young players in Bengaluru, managing on his military and sports pensions despite financial challenges. Though he was allocated land in Payyambalam, Kannur, in 2007, a house was finally constructed for him only in 2019, thanks to the efforts of then Sport Minister E.P. Jayarajan.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended his condolences, remembering Manuel Frederick as one of the world’s finest goalkeepers during the “helmetless period” of 1971-78. “He brought immense pride to both the state and the nation, and I share the profound grief of his passing with his family and sports enthusiasts across the country,” the Chief Minister stated.
His family has announced that Manuel Frederick’s mortal remains will be laid to rest in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 1, 2025.