Patrick Kluivert’s stint as Indonesia head coach over after team misses out on World Cup spot

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Indonesia's coach Patrick Kluivert speaks during a press conference ahead of the World Cup qualifying match against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on March 19, 2025. (AP Photo)

Patrick Kluivert is no longer the head coach of the Indonesian men’s football team after the Asian side failed to secure a spot at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The former Dutch striker, who made a name for himself playing for Spanish giants Barcelona, had been given a two-year contract in January this year with Indonesia chasing the World Cup for the first time since gaining independence in 1945.

But defeats to continental heavyweights from Asia like Saudi Arabia and Iraq put paid to Indonesia’s dreams of sealing qualification to the World Cup next year, which will be hosted by three countries, the USA, Canada and Mexico.

“The Football Association of Indonesia and the coaching team of the Indonesia national team have officially agreed for early termination of cooperation through mutual termination. This step was taken as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the national football coaching and development program,” the soccer federation of Indonesia said in a statement announcing the split.

Kluivert, who made 79 appearances for the Netherlands as a player, posted a message for fans of the Indonesian national team on social media, where he said that he shared their disappointment.

“The defeats against Saudi Arabia and Iraq were bitter lessons, but also reminders of how high our shared dreams are,” he wrote. “As head coach, I take full responsibility.”

The 49-year-old Kluivert replaced South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong amid the intensification of the Indonesian federation’s policy of naturalizing players from Europe with Indonesian heritage. The program helped take the team to the final stages of qualification for the first time since 1938, when it appeared at the World Cup as Dutch East Indies.

The majority of Kluivert’s final roster of 23 were born overseas, mainly in the Netherlands. However, results didn’t noticeably improve under the new coaching setup. Indonesia won three out of eight games while Kluivert was in charge.

(With inputs from AP)

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