Erick Thohir Rules Out Shin Tae-yong Return Amid PSSI's Coach Search

October 24, 2025 | 09:28 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Erick Thohir, Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), has officially commented on the ongoing search for a new national team coach. The PSSI recently terminated the contract of Patrick Kluivert and his staff after the Garuda squad failed to advance from the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in early October.

Several names have emerged as potential successors to Kluivert. One figure widely speculated by football enthusiasts in the country is the possibility of Shin Tae-yong returning to manage the Indonesian National Team. The South Korean coach was previously dismissed by the PSSI on January 6, 2025.

However, Erick emphasized that the announcement of a new coach will not be made in the immediate future. "If you ask when the announcement of the new coach will be made, not yet. I still require time to consolidate two specific matters," Erick stated in Jakarta on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

According to him, the PSSI is currently in communication with numerous international parties to actively rebuild trust in Indonesian football.

"I am trying to communicate with many parties. We must not let the recent perceptions that have made it difficult for us to find a coach. Because we have to acknowledge that our ranking is still low," Erick remarked.

Erick added that the PSSI maintains its commitment to implementing a long-term program for the sustained development of the Indonesian National Team. "What happened yesterday is part of the results that we must be responsible for," he said.

In addition, Erick highlighted the ongoing prevalence of harassment against national team players and coaches on social media platforms. "We must restore the perception of national football. Some players have also contacted me out of concern," Erick shared.

Erick acknowledged that this situation has complicated the PSSI's effort to recruit high-quality foreign coaches willing to manage the Indonesian National Team. When asked about the possibility of re-hiring the popular South Korean coach, Shin Tae-yong, who was dismissed in January 2025, Erick was firm: "We must move on. If we move on from Patrick, then we also move on from Shin Tae-yong."

The PSSI has not yet appointed an interim coach for the upcoming November FIFA Match Day. Erick mentioned he was "Still confused" while laughing, simultaneously denying rumors of potential high-profile hires like Louis van Gaal or Frank de Boer.

Erick concluded that the federation is seeking a coach with a carefully developed profile, created after evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the last two coaches. "We are looking for a suitable profile... If possible, these [weaknesses] can be rectified in the next coach," he said.

Editor’s Choice: Alex Pastoor Breaks Silence on Patrick Kluivert's Dismissal from Indonesia National Team

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