Coach Shin Tae-yong sets conditions for returning to Indonesia national team

After the loss in the 2026 World Cup qualifying rounds, supporters in Indonesia called on PSSI to bring back Coach Shin Tae-yong, yet the Korean coach consented to come back solely if given complete control over technical matters.

The future of Indonesian football is currently in crisis after the national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. The 0-1 loss to Iraq shattered Indonesia’s hopes of participating in the world’s biggest football event and sparked intense backlash against Coach Patrick Kluivert. Thousands of fans lingered in the stands, chanting “Shin Tae-yong” as a call for the return of the Korean coach.

In September, Bola revealed that Coach Shin Tae-yong was willing to return to lead both the national team and the U23 Indonesia squad, but with a special condition. “PSSI must grant me full authority over technical matters if we reunite,”Shin stated through interpreter Jeong Seok-seo.

He wants to have the final say in player selection, training schedules, coaching plans, and especially the choice of his assistant staff. “Only with this authority can I implement a long-term vision for Indonesian football,”he affirmed.

Shin’s statement sparked lively debate within Indonesia’s football community. Most fans support his demand, believing that a head coach having full decision-making power is essential to build a unified football philosophy. To them, Shin Tae-yong is not only a tactical influencer but also a symbol of discipline and strong fighting spirit.

In fact, the results under Shin’s leadership were far superior compared to his successor Kluivert. In the 14 matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he led Indonesia to 6 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, achieving a 42.9% win rate. The team scored 26 goals, conceded 17, and played with increasing solidity, balancing defense and counterattack. Under his tenure, Indonesia reached the round of 16 at the 2023 Asian Cup for the first time, qualified for the U23 Asian Championship semifinals in 2024, and advanced to the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers — milestones never before achieved.

Conversely, since Patrick Kluivert took over, Indonesian football has severely declined. In 8 matches, they won only 3 — mostly against weaker teams — and suffered heavy defeats against Asia’s top sides like Australia (1-5), Japan (0-6), and Saudi Arabia (2-3). The defense conceded 15 goals with a negative goal difference of 4, and the win rate dropped to 37.5%, causing fans to lose faith. “Shin Tae-yong made us dream, while Kluivert brought us back to reality,”an angry supporter wrote on social media.

After parting ways with Ulsan Hyundai club, Coach Shin Tae-yong is currently a free agent, opening a big opportunity for PSSI if they want to reunite. Indonesian media suggest that if the federation accepts Shin’s conditions, Indonesian football could regain the cohesion and identity lost over nearly a year.

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