Indonesia confirms Kluivert as national team coach, to be unveiled this week
On January 8, the Indonesian Football Association announced the appointment of former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert as the new national team coach, replacing South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, who was abruptly dismissed two days earlier.
Kluivert has signed a two-year contract until 2027 with an option to extend the contract. With an important mission to lead the team to compete for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals. From the current situation, the Indonesian team is competing in the third qualifying round, Asian zone, with 6 points from 6 matches, ranked 3rd in Group C. The champion and runner-up teams will automatically receive a quota to participate in the World Cup. While the 3rd and 4th place of each group will go on to compete in the fourth qualifying round.
Kluivert, 48, has played for many famous teams in Europe, such as AC Milan, Barcelona, Newcastle, Valencia. When he retired in 2008, he turned to coaching. Starting as head coach with Twente’s reserve team, winning the 2011-12 reserve league championship. He also has experience coaching the Curacao national team and was an assistant coach of the Cameroon national team. His most recent coaching job was with Adana Demirspor in the Turkish league in 2023.
Kluivert is reportedly set to travel to Indonesia on Saturday, January 11, ahead of his unveiling the following day.
ESPN analyzed that one reason Indonesia chose Kluivert to take on the role is because the Indonesian national team currently has many players who have naturalized or are half-blooded, most of whom are of Dutch descent. Which should facilitate communication and understanding of the Dutch style of football.
While the reason for the dismissal of Shim Tae-yong, despite having helped improve the national team’s playing level, the โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที media reported that it was because he had conflicts with several key players in the association, especially the association president, Erik Thohir.