Breaking: Indonesia officially dismisses coach Patrick Kluivert

16/10/2025 13:36:00 PlaymakerHub

The Indonesian Football Association's official site confirmed the end of the contract with coach Patrick Kluivert after the national team was knocked out in the 2026 World Cup fourth qualifying round.

"The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and the coaching staff of the Indonesian national team have mutually agreed to an early termination of cooperation through a bilateral agreement. This agreement was signed between PSSI and the coaching team members, who were previously bound by a two-year contract,"the official announcement was released by the Indonesian Football Association on the morning of October 16.

"This termination was carried out by mutual consent, taking into account internal dynamics and the strategic development direction of the national team. With this termination, the coaching staff will no longer lead the Indonesian national team at all levels, including the senior, U23, and U20 teams," PSSI added in their statement.

Coach Patrick Kluivert was appointed head coach of the Indonesian national team, replacing Shin Tae Yong, at the beginning of 2025. In his debut match with the team from the archipelago, the Dutch strategist suffered a 1-5 defeat against Australia but later secured two wins against Bahrain and China, leading Indonesia into the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers.

However, in the fourth qualifying round, Indonesia lost two consecutive matches to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, ending their dream of reaching the world stage prematurely.

It is known that immediately after the loss to Iraq, Coach Kluivert flew back to the Netherlands. He also sent a heartfelt letter to the fans, hinting at a possible farewell. "We couldn't qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but we have set a new standard and foundation to continue building with confidence. We worked tirelessly to unite domestic and overseas players into a single family, supported by a coaching staff united with one voice," Coach Kluivert expressed.

PSSI also expressed appreciation for all the contributions from the coaching staff throughout their tenure. This step is part of a comprehensive evaluation process of the national football training and development program.

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