Unfinished World Cup dream

The dismissal notice that the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) issued to coach Patrick Kluivert was just the consequence that many fans had predicted.

Indonesian football's reform plan is unfinished Photo: Reuters

Cultural peculiarities have led Indonesia to push its naturalization policy. But the World Cup dream seems to have taken PSSI President Erick Thohir a little too far.

When PSSI fired coach Shin Tae Yong earlier this year, the football world was not too surprised. Coach Shin Tae Yong was too noisy, rude, and did not behave properly as a national team coach. But firing Mr. Shin and then appointing former player Patrick Kluivert as his replacement is a different story.

Unlike Shin Tae Yong, Coach Kluivert is polite, quiet, and has a good relationship with most of Indonesia's naturalized Dutch players. In terms of image, Coach Patrick Kluivert is truly ideal. His only weakness is... coaching ability. More than 15 years since starting his coaching career, Mr. Kluivert has not achieved any results.

Asian football is all too familiar with figures like Kluivert. They only create the illusion of success thanks to their resume and their beautiful image. But the job of head coach of the national team requires more than that. As a veteran of the top football world, President Erick Thohir has a lot of experience with such cases. But this time, he is facing a historic milestone: leading Indonesia to a World Cup ticket.

So Mr. Thohir and PSSI took a risky gamble. Right from the time PSSI appointed Kluivert, the football world saw this. They needed short-term success, specifically in the final stages of the World Cup qualifiers.

That short-term goal has no time for philosophical coaches, nor space for strong-minded coaches. Indonesia needs someone with prestige, a voice, and a good relationship with the Dutch-born pillars. In short, PSSI does everything for the short-term goal of qualifying for the World Cup.

But then they failed. And now, the reform of Indonesian football is at a crossroads. "Going in must see it through" with the naturalization policy maintained in the future, or returning to the path of systematic training as promised?

No matter which path is chosen, it will be difficult. If it is the path of naturalization, PSSI will face difficulties from the fans of the country. A country with nearly 300 million people has its pride. But if it chooses to return to native players, where will the naturalized stars go?

And right now, there is no guarantee that superstars like Kevin Diks, Idzes, Verdonk... will continue to give their all for Indonesia once the World Cup dream is gone.

FIFA's expansion of the World Cup has helped many football teams break through, but has also left many projects unfinished.

Indonesia fires coach Kluivert

Yesterday (October 16), the Indonesian Football Federation officially fired coach Patrick Kluivert after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) announced: "We and the national team's coaching staff have officially agreed to terminate the contract ahead of schedule through mutual agreement." The previous contract was signed for 2 years. According to CNN Indonesia, the decision was made after careful consideration by PSSI, especially after the failure of the "archipelago" team in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Not only Patrick Kluivert, PSSI also terminated the contracts with other strategists in the coaching staff including Gerald Vanenburg (U23 team coach) and Frank van Kempen (U20 team coach). This means that the entire Dutch coaching staff will no longer lead the Indonesian national team at all levels.

PSSI sent thanks for the contributions of Coach Kluivert and his colleagues during the past working time. "We truly appreciate the contributions of all members of Mr. Kluivert's coaching staff during the past time."

In more than 10 months working with the Indonesian team, Coach Kluivert did not leave much of an impression. The former Dutch player only had 3 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses after 8 official matches of the Indonesian team. The inability to complete the goal of participating in the 2026 World Cup finals was the direct cause leading to PSSI's decision to fire Patrick Kluivert.

HUY DANG - THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dang-do-vi-giac-mo-world-cup-20251017103000516.htm