Patrick Kluivert (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Patrick Kluivert has been appointed head coach of Indonesia’s national team, signing a two-year deal. He replaces Shin Tae-yong and aims to build on Indonesia’s recent football progress.
The former Dutch forward, famous for his time at Ajax, Barcelona, and Milan, is stepping into an independent coaching role after a significant break. Kluivert has signed a two-year contract with the Indonesian football federation, which includes an option to extend for an additional two years.
He will replace Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, who previously helped Indonesia regain prominence on the Asian football scene. Erick Thohir, the federation’s president and ex-owner of Inter Milan, believes Kluivert is the right figure to continue the country’s football development.
Since retiring as a player, Kluivert has taken on several coaching roles, though many were short-lived. His most notable position was as sporting director at PSG. In 2015, he briefly coached Curacao’s national team, and in 2018, he served as Clarence Seedorf’s assistant with Cameroon.
Indonesia has significantly boosted its football ambitions in recent years. The national team's progress has been aided by the inclusion of European-born players acquiring citizenship through their heritage.