Kluivert Takes Indonesia Job Amid World Cup Dreams

Patrick Kluivert (48) is the new head coach of the Indonesian national team.

The Barcelona, Ajax, and Netherlands legend signed a two-year contract with an extension option on Wednesday and will be presented this Saturday in Jakarta.

Contracted for two years from 2025 to 2027, with an option for a contract extension. Kluivert presented as Indonesia’s new coach (Photo courtesy: PSSI)

Kluivert, who recently served as the head coach of Curaçao and assistant coach for Cameroon and the Netherlands (during the 2014 World Cup), was dismissed from Turkish side Adana Demirspor in December 2023 and had been unemployed since. The Dutchman replaces highly-regarded Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, who was dismissed this week following a disappointing Southeast Asian Championship campaign where Indonesia failed to progress beyond the group stage.

The dismissal of the South Korean coach came as a surprise, considering Indonesia's significant progress under his leadership over the past year and a half. Although Indonesia is ranked 127th in the FIFA rankings, they qualified for the Asian Cup last year after a long absence and reached the round of 16 for the first time in their history. Additionally, they advanced to the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever and maintain a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Over the past two years, Indonesia has been leading a major project of naturalizing European players with Indonesian heritage, particularly from the Netherlands – a legacy of Dutch colonial rule that lasted until 1945. This has led to an increase in English-speaking players in the squad, and coach Tae-yong was asked to improve his English or learn Indonesian to strengthen his connection with both local and naturalized players. When this didn't materialize, the Indonesian Football Association sought a replacement.

"The decision was made with broad consensus by the federation and national team management, considering the long-term objectives that the Indonesian Football Association wants to achieve," said federation chairman Erick Thohir, former owner of Inter Milan and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, in a press statement announcing the Korean's dismissal.

Indonesia the promised land

Indonesia is an enormous country. With approximately 278 million people, nearly 90% of whom are Muslim, living across a vast archipelago in Southeast Asia. It's incredibly diverse, with about 1,300 different ethnic groups speaking roughly 700 languages, and while predominantly Muslim, it's home to Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and other religious groups. It's fair to say that Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country.

With a quarter-billion football-crazy population, the country is one of the most important in Southeast Asian football. It boasts giant clubs like Persib Bandung, Persipura Jayapura, and Persija Jakarta, each commanding millions of fans domestically and in neighbouring countries (Malaysia, Singapore, and others), with tens of thousands attending each match.

This has made Indonesia an attractive 'football market' that major entities, from Western corporations to FIFA itself, are eager to penetrate and establish a foothold in.

However, the intense passion for football doesn't always manifest positively. The past decade has seen numerous clashes between fans and police in stadiums across the country. In October 2022, approximately 129 football fans died at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang during a league match between Arema and Persebaya. Fans stormed the pitch, police fired tear gas, and dozens were crushed to death in the stands, while others died from excessive tear gas inhalation.

Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, Indonesia has no official diplomatic relations with Israel, and it is one of the most supportive countries for the Palestinian cause. In 2023, the country was scheduled to host the U-20 World Cup but relinquished hosting rights due to political pressure not to allow the Israeli team to play on its soil.

The Mission: World Cup 2026

Now, Patrick Kluivert has become the head coach of one of the world's most fascinating countries. He will be joined by assistants Alex Pastor and Danny Landzaat, with rumors suggesting Louis van Gaal might join as technical director of Indonesian national teams. "Erick [Thohir] has strong connections and is a big believer in Dutch football," explains Aoun Rahman, one of Indonesia's senior football journalists, to BabaGol. "That's why he signed Ronald de Boer at Inter back then."

Local fans have mixed reactions to the news and appointment. "True, Shin Tae-yong wasn't the perfect coach, but we made tremendous progress with him," says Netra Itsako, a national team supporter, to BabaGol. "It feels like the federation just sought a big name to attract more Dutch players to the national team, rather than a coach who would genuinely improve our football."

"The crowd here is furious about this signing," adds Aoun Rahman. "Under the previous coach, Indonesia reached new heights, defeated major teams like Saudi Arabia, and Kluivert's record isn't impressive. I don't know if this will take us to the World Cup, but it will undoubtedly enhance our national team's legacy and reputation."

Kluivert himself sounds excited: "Indonesia is known for its immense passion and vibrant football culture, and I'm very excited to begin," Kluivert said after signing. "The goal is to qualify for the World Cup next year."

Whether that happens or not, things will be interesting in Indonesia over the next two years as many eyes will follow the growing Dutch colony there. One thing's for certain: if Kluivert takes Indonesia to their first World Cup since 1938, this enormous country will enter a football frenzy that will send waves throughout the football world.