Former Havant Olympic gold medallist Russell Garcia quits role with GB hockey to move back to Germany

He has resigned his position as assistant coach to the Great Britain men’s hockey team - a role he has held for three years - to move back to former club Grossflottbeker in Hamburg.

Having lived in Germany for a number of years, Portsmouth-born Garcia - who celebrates his 50th birthday later this month - has a German wife, Mona, and his two children were also born there.

Great Britain Hockey Performance Director Ed Barney said: ‘We are incredibly sad to see Russell go.

‘He has brought a wealth of experience, coaching acumen, personality and vibrancy not only to the senior men’s programme, but also to the performance department and to the whole of the organisation.

‘It has been a delight to have Russell in the UK and we recognised from the outset what a significant decision it was for he and his family to relocate to Bisham.

‘However, it’s clear that returning to Germany is the right decision for the Garcia family as they consider ties and schooling.’

Garcia became Britain's youngest ever Olympic champion in any sport when he was part of the victorious Great Britain men’s squad in Seoul in 1988 at the age of just 18.

The one-time Portsmouth College of Art student was playing for Havant when he was called up for training with the British squad in 1987.

He was told on his 18th birthday that he had been selected for the Seoul Olympics.

He appeared in three group matches at Seoul but did not play in the semi-final or final.

He also appeared in the Barcelona Olympics four years later while still at Havant.

Since Garcia became assistant coach, England's men finished third at both the EuroHockey Championships and Commonwealth Games, while Great Britain successfully qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and finished in the top four in the first ever FIH Hockey Pro League.