Jakarta. Indonesian football association chief Erick Thohir has called on supporters of the national team to move on from former head coach Shin Tae-yong, as the search continues for a new manager following the departure of Patrick Kluivert last week.

“I think we all need to move on. If we’ve moved on from Patrick, we should also move on from Shin Tae-yong,” Erick told state news agency Antara on Thursday.

Public discussion about possible replacements has intensified since Kluivert’s exit, with Shin’s name once again surfacing among fans hopeful for his return. The South Korean coach previously led Indonesia from 2020 to early 2025, overseeing a period of steady improvement before leaving in January. However, Erick made it clear that both Shin and Kluivert are now part of the team’s past.

“Those two coaches are in the past. We have to move forward and look for someone new, while learning from what worked and what didn’t under Shin and Patrick,” said Erick, who also serves as the Youth and Sports Minister.

He added that evaluations of both previous coaches would serve as a guide in defining the ideal profile for the next head coach. “We’re looking for someone who fits a complete set of criteria. We’re assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the previous coaches to see what we need to improve in the next one,” he added.

Finding the right candidate, however, will not be easy, Erick admitted. Indonesia remains ranked outside FIFA’s top 100, making it difficult to attract high-profile international coaches. “I’m reaching out to various contacts. Our ranking is still low, so convincing top coaches to come here is not an easy task,” he said.

Erick said the PSSI is focusing on a long-term program to build a stronger, more competitive national team, and that he has been leveraging his international connections to find the right person to lead it. “Through my international network, I’m trying to rebuild confidence that we still want a long-term project. What happened before is part of the process, and we take responsibility for that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shin Tae-yong recently hinted at his willingness to return, though he confirmed he has yet to receive an official offer from PSSI.

“If there’s an offer, I’ll consider it. My principle is simple — I’m open to any good opportunity wherever it comes from,” the 55-year-old told Goalpost Asia’s YouTube channel on Tuesday. “To be honest, my heart still leans toward Indonesia. Even if another country offers me something slightly better, if Indonesia comes with genuine intent, it will always be my first choice.”

Shin, who led Indonesia’s senior and youth teams to multiple regional successes, was replaced by Kluivert earlier this year. Kluivert’s short stint ended after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign that saw losses to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, leaving Indonesia at the bottom of Group B.

Other names reportedly being considered to replace Kluivert include former Iraq coach Jesús Casas, Portuguese manager Bernardo Tavares, and Dutch coaches Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Phillip Cocu.

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