Indonesia and Kluivert part ways after World Cup elimination
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Kluivert and Indonesia mutually agreed to end his tenure as national team coach after only nine months.
- The separation followed Indonesia's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after recent losses to Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
- Kluivert was appointed in January on a two-year contract as part of a policy to naturalize players, which helped reach the final qualification stages.
- In his eight matches in charge, Kluivert recorded three wins, four losses, and one draw.
- The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) cited a comprehensive evaluation of the national football program as the reason for the termination.
Indonesia and coach Patrick Kluivert have mutually agreed to terminate his contract after only nine months, following the national team's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The crucial qualification hopes were dashed by recent losses to Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the fourth round of the AFC qualifiers. Kluivert, a former Netherlands international, was appointed in January on a two-year deal as part of a strategy emphasizing naturalized players, which had previously helped the team reach this stage for the first time since 1938. During his short tenure, the 49-year-old managed eight matches, securing three wins, four losses, and one draw. In a statement, Kluivert acknowledged the bitter disappointment of missing the World Cup but remained proud of the team's efforts. The PSSI stated the departure is part of a comprehensive evaluation of the national football program, without naming a successor for the role.
