Following the dismissal of the Indonesian national team’s coach Shin Tae-Yong on Monday, 6th of January 2025, Patrick Kluivert was rumoured to be the new coach. The PSSI (Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia/Football Association of Indonesia) has announced plans to officially reveal the new coach on the 12th of January 2025.
However, renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed the news on his Instagram account, revealing that Patrick Kluivert is set to take over as Indonesia’s head coach. Kluivert has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with an option for a two-year extension. His primary objective will be to guide the Indonesian national team to World Cup qualification.
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This appointment marks Patrick Kluivert’s third managerial role as a national team coach, following his previous stints with Curaçao, where he served twice, including an interim role in 2021. After retiring as a player in 2008, the former Ajax and Barcelona striker transitioned to coaching, taking on roles such as assistant coach for the Netherlands during their third-place finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, managing Curaçao’s national team, and serving as Director of Football for PSG. Kluivert also briefly managed Turkish club Adana Demirspor, a tenure that ended with his resignation in December 2023.
Kluivert will have two months to prepare for Indonesia’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, starting with Australia on the 20th of March and Bahrain on the 25th of March. The top two teams in Group C will secure direct qualification for the World Cup.
Patrick Kluivert: The Netherlands’ Football Legend
Born in Amsterdam in 1976, Kluivert is celebrated as one of the Netherlands’ greatest football talents. He began his career at Ajax, famously scoring the decisive goal in the 1995 UEFA Champions League final. Kluivert enjoyed a successful playing career at top clubs, including Barcelona, where he scored 122 goals and won La Liga in 1999. For the Netherlands national team, he earned 79 caps and was the top scorer at Euro 2000.
