Netherlands and Barcelona soccer legend Patrick Kluivert was once named the unused mentor of Indonesia on Wednesday.
With the appointment, the 48-year-old former striker is tasked with chief Indonesia to its first Global Cup since gaining liberty. The Southeast Asian folk’s squad in large part is composed of avid gamers born within the Netherlands who’ve been naturalised to constitute Indonesia.
Saying the appointment in a remark excused on Wednesday, the Indonesian Soccer Affiliation mentioned, “The Dutch football legend has signed a two-year contract from 2025 to 2027, with an option for an extension.”
Kluivert, whose managerial occupation has but to check the heights of his illustrious enjoying days, is anticipated to reach in Indonesia on Saturday and will probably be officially presented to the crowd please see week.
The Dutchman was once extensively tipped for the position next Indonesia controversially sacked South Korean mentor Shin Tae-yong on Monday.
Shin had led Indonesia, recently ranked 127th in FIFA scores, into the decisive 3rd spherical of Asian qualifying for the 2026 Global Cup in North The united states.
Indonesia has made just one Global Cup look—in 1938, beneath Dutch colonial rule. The rustic declared liberty in 1945.
Indonesia residue in rivalry for the 2026 Global Cup, sitting 3rd of their qualifying crew next one win and 3 attracts in six video games. The govern two groups qualify at once for North The united states, life the 3rd and fourth-placed groups go to some other spherical of qualifying.
Their nearest qualifier is a pivotal fit in March in opposition to Australia, who’re 2d in Workforce C, only one level forward. Japan recently leads the gang conveniently.
An legitimate from the Indonesian Soccer Affiliation admitted to AFP that Kluivert’s appointment was once now not extensively welcomed by means of enthusiasts, a lot of whom nonetheless assistance Shin.
Alternatively, the legitimate, talking anonymously, mentioned: “Shin had communication problems with the European players. That’s why a coach from the Netherlands was chosen as his replacement.”
Amsterdam-born Kluivert retired as a participant in 2008 next a stellar occupation that started at Ajax, the place he gained the Champions League. He nearest performed for AC Milan and Barcelona.
Kluivert was once one in every of Europe’s maximum feared forwards in his while, scoring 123 targets in six seasons for Barcelona and netting 40 targets in 79 appearances for the Netherlands.
Alternatively, his managerial occupation has now not been as prominent. His terminating training stint was once at Turkish membership Adana Demirspor, the place he spent 5 months in 2023. Ahead of that, he served as caretaker supervisor for Curacao in 2021.
A lot of his training enjoy has been as an workman, together with stints beneath Clarence Seedorf with Cameroon (2018–2019) and Louis van Gaal with the Dutch nationwide crew (2012–2014).