Indonesia coach Shin recovering from lung surgery

By Minh Khang July 18, 2024 | 03:29 am PT

Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-yong said he is recovering from a pleurisy surgery that he underwent in South Korea a month ago.

On July 16, coach Shin attracted attention when he posted photos during his hospital stay in South Korea after pleurisy surgery. The 53-year-old coach left Indonesia for South Korea on June 14 and was hospitalized a day later. The surgery was performed on June 17, in six hours.

Coach Shin Tae-yong is in the hospital after a pleurisy surgery in South Korea. Photo: Instagram/@shintaeyong7777

Coach Shin Tae-yong is in hospital after a pleurisy surgery in South Korea. Photo by Instagram/@shintaeyong7777

The South Korean coach looks skinnier than before. He said he will soon return to join the Indonesia national team to prepare for the 2026 World Cup third qualifying round.

After helping Indonesia advance to the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, coach Shin was given a three-year contract extension by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), valid until 2027.

In the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, Indonesia are in group C with strong teams like Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China. Coach Shin and the team will begin their campaign to compete for World Cup tickets with an away match against Saudi Arabia on Sept. 5. After that, they will come home to take on Australia on Sept. 10.