Frank van Kempen Appointed Head Coach of Indonesia U-20 National Team

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has appointed Frank van Kempen as the head coach of the Indonesian U-20 national team. The 53-year-old coach from the Netherlands is considered to have the capacity to design a progressive and structured development system.

The Chairperson of PSSI, Erick Thohir, mentioned the appointment of Van Kempen as part of a long-term strategy to ensure the continuity of achievements across different age groups. "We need a coach who is not only competent tactically but also understands the importance of the player transition from the U-20 to U-23 and senior levels. Frank van Kempen has a track record in this regard," he said as quoted from the official PSSI website on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

Van Kempen, who holds a Pro-UEFA coaching license, previously served as an assistant coach for the Dutch U-20 national team from July 2014 to January 2016. He also worked on the coaching staff of several clubs in his home country, including PSV Eindhoven, VVV-Venlo, and Sparta U-19. His presence is expected to build a sustainable development pathway from a young age group to the senior national team.

Under Van Kempen's guidance, the Garuda Muda squad will not only be directed to achieve success in the AFF U-19 and AFC U-20 Qualification events but also serve as a platform to identify outstanding talents ready to gradually and systematically fill the needs of the senior national team. PSSI considers this as a step to strengthen the foundation of youth development for the sustainable progress of Indonesian football.

Van Kempen replaces Indra Sjafri, who was previously dismissed from his position as the head coach of the U-20 Indonesia national team following the evaluation of the Garuda Muda squad's failure in the 2025 AFC U-20 Championship, where the Red and White team were eliminated in the group stage.

Van Kempen expressed enthusiasm for joining Indonesia's major football project. "The young talent in Indonesia is extraordinary. My task is to create a development bridge so that they can compete at the highest level, with a foundation of discipline, modern tactics, and a culture of hard work," he said after meeting with the Chairman of PSSI in Jakarta.

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