Patrick Kluivert’s tenure as Indonesia’s national football coach has officially come to an end after the Dutchman and the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) mutually agreed to part ways on Thursday.
The decision follows Indonesia’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after back-to-back defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the final qualifying rounds dashed their hopes.
Kluivert, 49, had only been appointed in January 2025, taking over from Shin Tae-yong, whose dismissal at the time generated widespread controversy. His reign lasted just eight matches, with a record of three wins, four losses, and one draw.
In a heartfelt message on Instagram, the former Barcelona and Netherlands striker described his brief spell as “an unforgettable journey.”
“Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together,” Kluivert wrote.
The PSSI confirmed that his departure was the result of a “mutual termination” following a comprehensive evaluation of the national football coaching and development programme.
The association, however, did not disclose who would replace the Dutch coach.
Kluivert, who retired from playing in 2008, enjoyed a glittering club career that began at Ajax, where he won the Champions League, before moving on to AC Milan and Barcelona.
His coaching career, however, has been more turbulent. Before taking charge of Indonesia, he had short spells as manager of Adana Demirspor in Turkey in 2023 and caretaker coach of Curaçao in 2021. He also served as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national team between 2012 and 2014.
Despite the disappointing campaign, Kluivert remains a respected figure in global football circles, with his next managerial move likely to attract attention.
