According to PSSI's decision, Patrick Kluivert will lead the Indonesian team with a 2-year contract (2025-2027) with a contract extension clause.
While coaching the Garuda Squad, Kluivert will be assisted by several assistant coaches from the Netherlands such as Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat. Additionally, there will be two local Indonesian coaches assisting Kluivert.
Kluivert is a legendary player for the Netherlands national team. In his time, he was the best striker in the Netherlands as well as some of the top clubs in Europe such as Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan, Barcelona, CF Valencia, Newcastle United, PSV and Lille.
After retiring as a player in 2008, the coach born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 1 July 1976 immediately started his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach at AZ Alkmaar, NEC Nigmegen, Brisbane Roar. He then became the coach of Jong Twente and won the championship title.
Kluivert was also assistant coach to Louis van Gaal in the Netherlands national team that finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In 2015, Kluivert was appointed head coach of the Curaçao national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and 2017 Caribbean Cup qualifiers.
His other experience includes being sporting director at the academies of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, coaching Ajax A1 (U19) as well as being assistant to Clarence Seedorf in the Cameroon national team.
Before coming to Indonesia, he was the coach of Turkish club Adana Demirspor. Kluivert was also the director of FC Barcelona's academy.
Kluivert is expected to arrive in Indonesia on January 11 and will then be introduced to Indonesian fans.
PSSI Risk
The Indonesian team is currently ranked 3rd in Group C, the 3rd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia. Under the guidance of coach Shin Tae-yong, the team from the archipelago has made great strides in the past 5 years, rising more than 50 places in the FIFA rankings, raising the team's level, bringing the team's level closer to the strongest teams in the continent.
Shin Tae-yong was fired while the Indonesian team was focusing all its efforts on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they had a chance to compete for a direct ticket to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year. Compared to Shin Tae-yong, Kluivert had a much more illustrious playing career, but his coaching record was very faint.
According to football expert Andibachtiar Yusuf, firing Shin Tae-yong at this time is the wrong time. Because before that, PSSI extended the contract with the Korean strategist until 2027.
He shared with Bola: "Is it the right decision to suddenly part ways with Shin Tae-yong, when the Indonesian team is ranked third in the group? In my opinion, his evaluation will take place in June, when some matches have been completed. Therefore, I really regret this decision."
According to the schedule, Kluivert will start his work from the away match against Australia on March 20. Five days later, the Indonesian team will meet Bahrain at home.
