PSSI Terminates Coach Patrick Kluivert’s Contract After World Cup Exit
Jakarta. The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced Thursday that they had terminated their contract with the Dutch-born coach Patrick Kluivert after the national team bade adieu to the 2026 World Cup dream.
“The contract termination was based on mutual agreement after considering the internal dynamics and the strategic direction of the national team’s future development,” PSSI wrote in a press statement.
The association did not directly mention Kluivert’s name, only saying that the national coaching team would be parting ways with players of all levels, be it the seniors, Under-23, as well as the Under-20. Kluivert was initially awarded a two-year contract, with optional extensions. The 49-year-old inked the contract in early January and has since led the national team to just eight matches.
“Thank you for the contributions that Coach Patrick Kluivert and the coaching team have made over the past 12 months,” PSSI’s chairman, Erick Thohir, said in a social media post.
Erick, who is also Indonesia’s sports minister, said the association would make evaluations and set future targets.
“So our national team can make it into the FIFA 100, 2027 Asian Cup, and the 2030 World Cup,” Erick explained.
The hashtags #KluivertOut and #PatrickOut trended on social media after Indonesia got ousted from the 2026 FIFA World Cup over the weekend. Indonesia succumbed to a 0-1 loss to Iraq in their second Group B Qualifier. The result marked the team’s second consecutive loss under Kluivert, following a 2-3 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match.
As per writing, Kluivert had yet to issue a comment on his departure. Kluivert, however, posted a lengthy post that called the defeats “bitter lessons”, not long after the World Cup exit.
“True progress takes time. And what we’ve built together will keep growing, beyond today,” Kluivert said on Monday.
Kluivert replaced the South Korean Shin Tae-yong, who had led the national team for four years. The latter had won the hearts of many Indonesian football fans.
Read More:
‘I Love Total Football But Let’s See,’ Patrick Kluivert on His Future Tactic for Indonesian Team
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