Indonesia appoints former Dutch football star Patrick Kluivert as new national head coach

By Quang Huy January 6, 2025 | 03:17 pm PT

Former Dutch star striker Patrick Kluivert has signed a two-year contract to be the head coach of Indonesia, with an option to extend for another two years.

Former Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert. Photo by UEFA

Kluivert's official introduction will take place on Jan. 12 in Jakarta. The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has tasked the 48-year-old coach with securing a historic World Cup qualification.

This announcement follows Indonesia's decision to part ways with coach Shin Tae-yong, who served for nearly five years, on Monday. Despite his contract renewal in April 2024, valid until 2027, PSSI president Erick Thohir stated that the decision was mutual and unrelated to Indonesia's disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 ASEAN Cup.

Kluivert's appointment showed Indonesia's commitment to a "Dutchification" strategy, which includes naturalizing Dutch-Indonesian players to strengthen the squad.

This policy has yielded initial success, with Indonesia reaching the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia for the first time. The team are currently third in Group C, competing against powerhouses like Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

European media reported that PSSI considered both Patrick Kluivert and Louis van Gaal for the position. While Kluivert lacks extensive managerial experience compared to Van Gaal, his Surinamese roots and cultural ties to Indonesia made him a compelling choice.

Suriname, a country in South America, was a former Dutch colony. Many Surinamese have Javanese and Indonesian ancestry due to migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries. This connection makes Kluivert a beloved figure in Indonesia, not just for his football achievements but also for his shared heritage.

Kluivert is widely regarded as one of Europe's best strikers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Known for his clinical finishing, intelligent movement and technical skills, he won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and La Liga with Barcelona in 1999. He also played for famous clubs like AC Milan, Newcastle United, LOSC Lille, Valencia and PSV.

On the international stage, Kluivert earned 79 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 40 goals. With Kluivert, the Netherlands reached the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, where he was named the top scorer with five goals.

Since retiring, Kluivert has held various roles, including assistant coach for the Netherlands from 2012 to 2014, football director at PSG from 2016 to 2017 and advisor to football academies.