{"id":29505,"date":"2025-10-29T22:46:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T13:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/?p=29505"},"modified":"2025-10-29T22:46:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T13:46:56","slug":"whats-next-for-timnas-garuda-after-world-cup-failure-and-kluvierts-sacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/2025\/10\/29\/whats-next-for-timnas-garuda-after-world-cup-failure-and-kluvierts-sacking\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Next for Timnas Garuda after World Cup Failure and Kluviert’s Sacking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, this is it. Indonesia\u2019s dream of returning to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1938 came to an end on October 12, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iraq. The result condemned Indonesia to the bottom of their fourth-round qualifying group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At first glance, Indonesia\u2019s run was historic \u2014 no Southeast Asian nation had advanced this far in the modern World Cup qualifying era. Yet, the manner in which their campaign unraveled has left fans across the country frustrated and furious.<\/p>\n

Now-former coach Patrick Kluivert now finds himself at the center of heavy scrutiny after an underwhelming start to his tenure with the Timnas Garuda<\/em>. The Dutch legend replaced the widely beloved Shin Tae-yong, whose dismissal in January was met with widespread controversy. Since taking charge, Kluivert oversaw eight matches, recording three wins, four losses, and one draw.<\/p>\n

Even those victories came with caveats. Indonesia labored to narrow 1-0 wins over Bahrain and China in the third-round qualifiers \u2014 the former a side of similar quality, and the latter arguably the weakest Chinese team in recent memory. As for the 6-0 thrashing of Chinese Taipei in a September friendly? It came against inferior opposition, hardly ideal preparation before facing Asia\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

While the 3-2 loss to Saudi Arabia and the 1-0 defeat to Iraq in the fourth round may seem like progress compared to earlier 5-1 and 6-0 drubbings by Australia and Japan, the performances told a different story. Indonesia were often fortunate not to lose by wider margins, and their only two goals in this round \u2014 both scored by Kevin Diks \u2014 came from the penalty spot.<\/p>\n

Despite facing opponents clearly superior on paper, Kluivert took a risky gamble with his tactics. He abandoned the tried-and-tested three-man defense \u2014 a system that had formed the backbone of Indonesia\u2019s stability under Shin Tae-yong \u2014 in favor of a four-man backline and a style of play that, while seemingly direct, did not suit the team\u2019s rhythm or strengths.<\/p>\n

The most glaring example came in the match against Saudi Arabia. Instead of fielding an additional defender to cover for the still-unfit Sandy Walsh, Kluivert deployed Yakob Sayuri \u2014 a naturally attack-minded player \u2014 at right-back. The decision proved costly, as Yakob\u2019s defensive lapses directly contributed to all three of Saudi Arabia\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n

And then there were the allegations.<\/p>\n

As Kluivert and his squad departed Saudi Arabia, rumors began circulating online suggesting that an agreement existed between the Dutchman and Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI) president Erick Thohir, allegedly requiring Kluivert to start at least four to five players from the Indonesian Super League in every match.<\/p>\n

Sharp-eyed netizens noted a pattern: against Saudi Arabia, Kluivert\u2019s starting lineup included four Super League players \u2014 Yakob Sayuri, Marc Klok, Beckham Putra, and Ricky Kambuaya. The same occurred in the Iraq match, where Kambuaya, Eliano Reijnders, Thom Haye, and Rizky Ridho all started.<\/p>\n

Observers were quick to contrast this with Shin Tae-yong\u2019s final World Cup qualifier in charge \u2014 a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia last November \u2014 where only one Super League player, Rizky Ridho, started. Both Rafael Struick and Thom Haye also featured, but at the time, they were still based overseas.<\/p>\n

If the theory were true, it might explain the recent wave of diaspora players joining domestic clubs despite being capable of playing abroad \u2014 Jordi Amat joining Persija Jakarta, Struick at Dewa United, and Haye and Eliano Reijnders at Persib Bandung.<\/p>\n

However, this theory unraveled upon closer inspection. Against Japan, Kluivert started only two Super League players (Beckham and Yakob). In the win over China, there were three (Kambuaya, Rizky, and Egy Maulana Vikri). The victory against Bahrain featured just Rizky, and in his debut \u2014 the heavy defeat to Australia \u2014 there were none.<\/p>\n

Even with the theory debunked, the online backlash against both Kluivert and Erick Thohir showed no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n

It has long been an open secret \u2014 and a widely circulated theory \u2014 that Erick Thohir dismissed Shin Tae-yong not due to his performance in the 2024 ASEAN Championship, nor because of communication issues with the largely Dutch-born diaspora players. After all, Tae-yong had been instructed to field an under-22 squad in that tournament, limiting his chances of success from the outset.<\/p>\n

Instead, many believe Erick\u2019s decision was politically motivated. Tae-yong was, after all, an appointee of former PSSI president Mochamad Irawan, not Erick himself. As Erick is rumored to be laying the groundwork for a 2029 presidential bid, he is thought to want all future successes of both the PSSI and the national team to be attributed directly to his leadership \u2014 his project, his legacy.<\/p>\n

In that context, Tae-yong\u2019s immense popularity among fans presented a problem. His standing with the public risked overshadowing Erick\u2019s own image, potentially undermining his broader ambitions.<\/p>\n

According to this theory, the stage was deliberately set. Tae-yong was tasked with leading a youthful U-22 squad at the 2024 ASEAN Championship, with no formal expectation to win, but rather to build a foundation for the 2025 SEA Games. Yet, once Indonesia inevitably struggled \u2014 given the inexperience of the roster \u2014 the narrative swiftly shifted. What had been described as a \u201cdevelopmental tournament\u201d was reframed as a failed title bid.<\/p>\n

Tae-yong was made the scapegoat. Soon after, prominent pundits began amplifying criticism against him \u2014 among them Tommy Welly, Akmal Marhali of Save Our Soccer, and Justinus \u201cCoach Justin\u201d Lhaksana, once a vocal supporter who later joined the anti-Tae-yong chorus. Their collective pressure, intentional or not, provided Erick with the legitimacy needed to make the decisive move.<\/p>\n

Once Shin Tae-yong and his staff were dismissed, the search began for his successor \u2014 someone Erick Thohir could position as part of his broader legacy in Indonesian football. Fans were devastated by Tae-yong\u2019s departure, given his immense popularity, yet curiosity quickly turned to who might be chosen to fill his sizeable shoes.<\/p>\n

At the time, Giovanni van Bronckhorst emerged as one of the frontrunners. Fresh off his dismissal from Turkish giants Be\u015fikta\u015f, the former Dutch international boasted an impressive r\u00e9sum\u00e9 \u2014 most notably leading Glasgow Rangers to the 2021\/22 UEFA Europa League Final, where they narrowly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.<\/p>\n

Other high-profile names were also floated, including former Manchester United, Barcelona, Ajax, Bayern Munich, and Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal, as well as Ajax legend Marco van Basten.<\/p>\n

Patrick Kluivert, too, was among those shortlisted \u2014 though his recent track record was less than stellar. His brief spell as Cura\u00e7ao national team manager ended in disappointment, and he was dismissed by Adana Demirspor after just five months. To his credit, however, Kluivert came close to guiding the Turkish side \u2014 featuring Mario Balotelli at the time \u2014 to the 2023\/24 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage.<\/p>\n

Van Gaal was seen as the clear favorite for the position. However, in January, it was announced that Kluivert had been appointed as Indonesia\u2019s new head coach \u2014 reportedly because he was the only candidate who attended the job interview, held on Christmas Day by PSSI.<\/p>\n

On October 16, just four days after the Iraq defeat, the PSSI confirmed that Kluivert and his entire coaching staff had \u201cmutually agreed\u201d to end their partnership. The announcement came after an internal evaluation led by Erick himself, who thanked Kluivert for his service but acknowledged that \u201ca new direction\u201d was needed.<\/p>\n

The sacking left Indonesia\u2019s national team in flux. With the 2026 World Cup dream extinguished, attention has now turned toward rebuilding for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and the newly announced FIFA ASEAN Cup.<\/p>\n

Erick admitted that the process of appointing a new head coach is proving challenging, citing the \u201cimmense public scrutiny\u201d surrounding the national team and the difficulty of finding a candidate capable of managing Indonesia\u2019s blend of local and diaspora players.<\/p>\n

As of late October, PSSI has yet to finalize a replacement, with several foreign names reportedly being considered \u2014 some with prior Asian football experience.<\/p>\n

The sense of uncertainty looms large. What was supposed to be Indonesia\u2019s golden generation \u2014 the team that broke barriers and inspired a new wave of footballing pride \u2014 is now left without a leader, their progress once again hindered by mismanagement and politics.<\/p>\n

For now, the dream has ended. But in a nation where football passion burns as fiercely as anywhere in the world, the hope \u2014 however faint \u2014 remains that the next chapter of the Garuda<\/em>\u2019s journey will finally see them soar again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, this is it. Indonesia\u2019s dream of returning to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1938 came to an end on October 12, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iraq. The result condemned Indonesia to the bottom of their fourth-round qualifying group. At first glance, Indonesia\u2019s run was historic \u2014 no Southeast Asian nation had advanced this far in the modern World Cup qualifying era. Yet, the manner in which their campaign unraveled has left fans across the country frustrated and furious. Now-former coach Patrick Kluivert now finds himself at the center of heavy scrutiny after an underwhelming start to his tenure with the Timnas Garuda. The … Continue reading “What’s Next for Timnas Garuda after World Cup Failure and Kluviert’s Sacking?”<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":28138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,26],"tags":[649,91,2907,301,674,95,315,480,554],"class_list":["post-29505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indonesia","category-southeast-asia","tag-erick-thohir","tag-indonesia","tag-patrick-kluivert","tag-pssi","tag-shin-tae-yong","tag-slider","tag-southeast-asia","tag-world-cup-qualifiers","tag-world-cup-qualifying"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29505"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29536,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29505\/revisions\/29536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}