Patrick Kluivert has resigned from his position as head coach of the Indonesian national football team, just days after the country’s aspirations to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed. The former Barcelona striker, who was appointed in January on a two-year contract, aimed to lead Indonesia to its first World Cup appearance since gaining independence in 1945. However, recent defeats to Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the qualifying rounds sealed Indonesia’s fate, prompting an early termination of Kluivert’s tenure. The Football Association of Indonesia announced the mutual decision, citing a comprehensive evaluation of the national team’s coaching and development program as the reason for the change. In a heartfelt message to fans on social media, Kluivert expressed his disappointment and took full responsibility for the team’s performance. He described the losses as ‘bitter lessons’ but also as reminders of the shared dreams for Indonesian football. Kluivert’s appointment was part of the federation’s strategy to naturalize players of Indonesian heritage from Europe, a policy that helped the team reach the final stages of World Cup qualification for the first time since 1938, when it competed as the Dutch East Indies. Despite the majority of his 23-player squad being born overseas, primarily in the Netherlands, the team’s performance under Kluivert’s leadership remained inconsistent, with only three wins in eight matches.
Patrick Kluivert exits as Indonesia’s head coach after missing out on a World Cup spot
