Indonesian media calls for coach Shin Tae Yong to return

The Indonesian media unanimously back coach Shin Tae Yong’s return to the national squad following the team's inability to progress beyond the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

The Indonesian national team has officially ended their dream of participating in the 2026 World Cup with their latest defeat to Iraq in the fourth qualifying round. After two matches, the Southeast Asian representative has no points, thus having to wait at least another five years for an opportunity.

Immediately following the loss to Iraq, Indonesian fans collectively called for the dismissal of current coach Patrick Kluivert. Hashtags such as #KluivertOut were repeatedly posted on social media platform X, while supporters also expressed deep longing for former coach Shin Tae Yong right at King Abdullah Sports City stadium.

Moreover, the Indonesian newspaper Suara also showed regret for the Korean strategist, with an emotional headline stating "Dear Shin Tae Yong, we miss you deeply."

Shin Tae Yong, who took charge in December 2019, was dismissed after the Indonesian team failed to meet expectations at the 2024 AFF Cup. However, under his leadership, Garuda significantly improved, rising from 173rd to 127th in the FIFA rankings.

Shin Tae Yong’s dream of bringing Indonesian football to the global stage began with a spectacular 12-0 aggregate victory over Brunei in the first qualifying round. This success allowed Indonesia to advance to the second round, placed in Group F with Iraq, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and then continued to make history by qualifying for the third round in Asia.

In the third round, despite facing powerhouses like Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Bahrain in Group C, the Indonesian team still earned six points from one win, three draws, and two losses. However, on January 6, 2025, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir unexpectedly announced Shin Tae Yong’s departure and appointed Patrick Kluivert with the goal of leading Indonesia to the 2026 World Cup.

This coaching change occurred with only four matches left in the third round of the Asian qualifiers, shifting fans’ hopes immediately toward results rather than the long-term development process that Shin Tae Yong had persistently pursued.

Unfortunately, Patrick Kluivert’s debut ended in a heavy 1-5 loss to Australia, a stark contrast to the 0-0 draw Indonesia had achieved under Shin's leadership previously.

It did not stop there; the Indonesian team suffered a crushing 0-6 defeat to Japan, a far worse result compared to the 0-4 loss during the Korean coach’s tenure.

The low point was a 2-3 loss to Saudi Arabia in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers, made even more bitter by recalling that in the previous round, Shin Tae Yong had helped Indonesia draw 1-1 away and win 2-0 at home against the same opponent.

Currently, coach Shin Tae Yong remains relaxed after receiving a dismissal notice from Ulsan HD. Therefore, the Korean strategist could easily return to lead the Indonesian national team if PSSI loses confidence in coach Patrick Kluivert and his predominantly Dutch staff.

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