Kluivert and Van Gaal to Team Up for Indonesia's National Football Team

Spanish media reports suggest that Patrick Kluivert and Louis van Gaal will collaborate in revitalizing Indonesia's national football team. This comes after the dismissal of head coach Shin Tae Yong, marking a significant shift in the country's football strategy.



According to the Spanish outlet Marca, Indonesia is undergoing a comprehensive overhaul of its football system. Kluivert, fresh from his tenure at Turkish club Adana Demirspor, is set to take on the role of head coach. Meanwhile, Van Gaal will serve as the team's Technical Director. This restructuring was announced shortly after Shin Tae Yong's departure, having led the team since 2019.

The media outlet also emphasized that Indonesia's main goal is to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The country's prospects appear promising, with the national team currently ranked third in their qualifying group, only one point behind Australia. However, Indonesia faces stiff competition from other teams such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China, all of which are tied on six points. Japan, however, remains in a commanding position at the top of the group with 16 points.

If Indonesia successfully qualifies, it would mark their first World Cup appearance since 1938, when they competed under the name of the Dutch East Indies but were eliminated in the first round by Hungary.

Marca also highlighted the surprising reunion between Van Gaal and Kluivert, who have a long history together. The two worked together during their time at Ajax and Barcelona, as well as with the Netherlands national team, where Van Gaal coached Kluivert through over 200 matches, with Kluivert scoring 106 goals.

PSSI President Erick Thohir has confirmed that the new coach's identity will be officially revealed on January 12.