Manuel Frederick was born on 20 October 1947 (some sources list 20 October 1948) in Burnassery, Kannur district, Kerala, India. Hailing from Kerala, a state not traditionally famous for sending many hockey Olympians, he carved a niche for himself as a specialist goalkeeper. He first played sports at school level in his home district before being recruited into higher-level teams.
Manuel Frederick’s Hockey Career
The main position that Frederick played in hockey was that of a goalkeeper. He represented India in key tournaments such as the Munich Olympics, which were held in 1972, where the Indian men’s team emerged third overall.
His medal in 1972 is especially notable because he became the first Keralite to win an Olympic medal. As of the date of writing, newspapers and sports features have taken note that both of Kerala’s Olympic medals in hockey came via goalkeepers: Frederick and later P. R. Sreejesh.
Apart from Kerala, Frederick also represented various clubs and associations within his career, including services teams (like the Army) and clubs of other states.
What Are Manuel Frederick’s Olympic Achievements?
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, the Indian men’s field hockey team won the bronze medal with Frederick guarding the goalpost. This came after a period when India, once a powerhouse in Olympic hockey, was seeking to re-establish its place on the podium. As a goalkeeper during that era, his contribution is rated very well.
The medal was of extra significance as Kerala, his home state, had fewer Olympic medallists then across sports.
What is Manuel Frederick’s Net Worth?
There is no reliably published information about Manuel Frederick’s net worth. Public records or standard sports-biography resources have not listed his earnings, endorsements, or assets. Any figure would, therefore, be speculative and should be treated cautiously.
Manuel Frederick’s Wife
Similarly, there is very limited publicly available information about his personal/family life, including details such as his spouse or children. Most articles focus on his sporting achievements, and biographical entries do not mention a wife or immediate family details.
Manuel Frederick’s Death
News reports stated that Manuel Frederick, 78 years old, died on 31 October 2025. In a sports news update, it was mentioned that he died in Bengaluru.
