GTG is to develop the game, which will be available on mobile and is expected to be released before the end of 2021 for Android and iPhone users.

The game will be free to download.

GTG already has manager games in ice hockey and football and is due to be releasing an American football version later this year.

"It is an honour for us at Gold Town Games to be able to produce the world’s first mobile hockey manager game," said GTG chief executive Pär Hultgren.

"It will be a challenge but also lots of fun and hopefully we can please the fans.

"The game of hockey has old, strong roots and it’s going to be exciting to develop and publish a game to its broad and growing global fan base."

According to the FIH, the game will allow users to create their own club, draft a team of players and build up their stadium, academy and training facilities.

They will also be able to join a league with friends to challenge others and compete for tournament prizes, the FIH said.

The FIH’s partnership with GTG comes as electronic games were added to the organisation’s statutes at its recent Congress, expanding the FIH's oversite.

"As an International Federation, entering the gaming world is a must nowadays, frankly," said FIH chief executive Thierry Weil.

"We’re glad to be partnering with GTG to help us doing this with a high-quality product.

"The hockey manager game will add significant promotion to our sport by bringing it to the attention of the huge gaming community around the world.

"From there, I do believe that a number of gamers will become hockey fans as well, and possibly even hockey athletes.

"That would be a really great outcome.

"Furthermore, with this new initiative, we’re also providing hockey lovers with a game they’ve been waiting for since a long time."