UEFA Champions League final ambassador Dutch former soccer player Patrick Kluivert attends a ceremony of the draw for the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League football tournament, in Nyon, on March 17, 2023. (AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)
T
he Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced on Wednesday that it had appointed former Dutch football player Patrick Kluivert as the head coach of the Indonesia's national team, two days after the organization sacked South Korean Shin Tae-yong.
In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the PSSI announced that Kluivert will serve as head coach for two years, from 2025 to 2027, with the possibility of an extension.
In his job as head coach, Kluivert will have two Dutch nationals Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat as assistant managers.
"The PSSI has officially appointed Patrick Kluivert as the new head coach for the Indonesian national team […] He is a legend in the Dutch national team and in his era he was one of the best strikers for the national team and other top-tier European clubs like Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan, Barcelona, CF Valencia, Newcastle United, PSV and Lille," the association said in the statement.
On Monday, PSSI chairman Erick Thohir announced the sacking of Shin as its national soccer coach, citing the need for better leadership as the country battles for a place in the 2026 World Cup.
In the announcement, Erick said that Shin's replacement, whom he declined to name but confirmed would be a European, would arrive in Indonesia on Jan. 11.
"We need a leadership that implements strategies as agreed with the players, communicates better, and implements better programs for our national team," Erick said.
Erick said that the new manager would continue to work to bring Indonesia to the 2026 World Cup tournament.
Erick, who became chairman of the PSSI last year, believes that Indonesia should at least be in the frame for a trip to the finals in 2026 with up to nine slots available to Asian teams.
"Indonesia should be in the top nine in Asia, with our population and our passion for soccer from all of the people of Indonesia. But of course it takes time," the 54-year-old cabinet minister told Reuters.
