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Agence France-Presse

Netherlands and Barcelona great Patrick Kluivert was named Indonesia coach on Wednesday, tasked with taking the country to their first World Cup finals since independence.
The 48-year-old former striker inherits a side featuring mostly players born in the Netherlands and naturalised to represent the Southeast Asian nation.
“The Dutch football legend has signed a two-year contract from 2025 to 2027 with an option for an extension,” Indonesia’s football association, the PSSI, said in a statement.
Kluivert, whose managerial career has not matched his sparkling playing days, is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday and will be introduced to the public the following day.

The Dutchman had been widely linked with the role after Indonesia controversially sacked the South Korean Shin Tae-yong on Monday.
Shin took Indonesia, who are 127th in the Fifa rankings, into the decisive third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Indonesia have only been to the World Cup once, in 1938, when they were under Dutch colonial rule. The country gained independence in 1945.
They are firmly in the hunt for 2026, sitting third in their qualifying group after one win and three draws in six games.
The top two go straight to North America, with third and fourth going into another round of qualifying.
Indonesia’s next qualifier is a crunch trip in March to Australia, who are second in Asian qualifying Group C but just a point ahead. Japan are the runaway leaders of the group.
An Indonesian football association official admitted that Kluivert’s appointment was not popular with fans, who were still behind Shin.
But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Shin had communication problems with the European players.
“That’s why the replacement is a Netherlands coach.”
Amsterdam-born Kluivert retired as a player in 2008 after a stellar career that started at Ajax, where he won the Champions League, before moves to AC Milan and then Barcelona.
He was one of Europe’s most feared forwards of his era, scoring 123 goals in six seasons for the Spanish giants. He also scored 40 times in 79 games for his country.
Kluivert’s managerial career has not been nearly as spectacular.
His last coaching role was in charge of Adana Demirspor in Turkey for five months in 2023. Before that he was caretaker manager of Curacao in 2021.
Much of his coaching experience has been as an assistant, notably to fellow former Ajax and Netherlands player Clarence Seedorf with Cameroon in 2018 to 2019.
He was also number two to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national side in 2012 to 2014.


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Fifa

Patrick Kluivert is to take over as Indonesia coach, the country’s football association said on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Patrick Kluivert meets fans at last month’s Barcelona v Real Madrid legends match in Hong Kong. Photo: EPA-EFE

Indonesia, Asian football’s sleeping tiger, is ready to roar after Asian Cup success and almost making Olympics, World Cup

The passion of Indonesia’s football fans, seen here outside the Gelora Bung Karno stadium watching the live stream of the pre-Olympic playoff, probably outstrips any country on the Asian continental mainland. Photo: AFP

Indonesian fans at a large-screen live streaming of the 1-0 pre-Olympic play-off defeat to Guinea. Photo: AFP

Indonesia’s South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong has been responsible for Indonesia’s resurgence. Photo: AFP

Forward Rafael Struick (left) is one of a growing number of Indonesian players of international quality. Photo: AFP

Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir heads PSSI, the football association. Photo: AFP

Indonesia’s Young Garuda footballers eye Olympic glory as U-23 Asian Cup run ignites national pride

The Young Garuda pose for a photo before their semi-final against Uzbekistan at the U-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Indonesian President Joko Widodo watches the Young Garuda’s semi-final match with senior government officials at the presidential palace. Photo: X / @jokowi 

Umarali Rakhmonaliev (left) of Uzbekistan vies with Muhammad Ferarri of Indonesia during their semi-final at the U-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Shin Tae-yong, head coach of Indonesia, during the U-23 Asian Cup semi-final in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Indonesian supporters watch the U-23 Asian Cup semi-final match on giant screens outside the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on Monday. Photo: AFP

Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Paes, whose grandmother was born in East Java, became a naturalised Indonesian citizen on Tuesday so he can play for the national team. Photo: USA Today Sports via Reuters

Indonesia have sacked their South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong in the middle of their campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: AP 

PSSI head Erick Thohir told a press conference Shin was sacked because of communication issues. Photo: AFP

Indonesia’s rise has been driven by the naturalisation of European players of Indonesian heritage. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Football

Ex-Barcelona and Netherlands striker signs contract, but official admits supporters are still behind the sacked Korean ex-boss Shin Tae-yong


Ex-Barcelona and Netherlands striker signs contract, but official admits supporters are still behind the sacked Korean ex-boss Shin Tae-yong.


Fifa World Cup 2026