PSSI
PSSI officially appoints John Herdman as Indonesia national team coach
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Following weeks of speculation and negotiations, PSSI officially announced John Herdman as head coach of the Indonesia national team on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The 50-year-old English coach replaces Patrick Kluivert after the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Herdman is renowned for guiding Canada to the 2022 World Cup.
PSSI Referee Committee Chairman Yoshimi Ogawa has revealed the major challenges facing referees in Indonesia, including netizen attacks on their families via social media. He stressed the need to protect referees from excessive pressure while maintaining refereeing quality standards. The statement comes amid evaluations of national referee performance.
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John Herdman was officially introduced as the coach of Indonesia's national team by PSSI on January 13, 2026, in Jakarta. The English coach explained that his decision was based on Indonesia's vision and great opportunities, not FIFA rankings. He rejected offers from Honduras and Jamaica despite their higher rankings.
Jean Paul Van Gastel, PSIM Yogyakarta coach and former assistant to Giovanni van Bronckhorst, expressed surprise at rumors of his colleague coaching Indonesia's national team. He highlighted Van Bronckhorst's Maluku heritage as a possible factor. Meanwhile, PSSI is interviewing coaching candidates in Europe.
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PSSI is seeking a new coach for Indonesia's national team after dismissing Patrick Kluivert due to failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who has Maluku heritage, emerges as a strong candidate among five names mentioned by Erick Thohir. British media reports he is being considered for the role.