Jakarta. Indonesian football veteran Ismed Sofyan has called on the national football federation, PSSI, to give local coaches a fair chance to lead the national team following the dismissal of Patrick Kluivert last week.

Ismed, who earned 53 caps for the Indonesian national team, said local coaches have the capability to manage the squad -- provided they are trusted and supported with quality players.

“In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with giving local coaches the opportunity to manage the Indonesian national team,” Ismed said on Friday.

The former Persija Jakarta player stressed that a coach’s main responsibility is to build a team that reflects the strengths of its players.

“If the players’ quality is strong enough, I think it’s not too difficult for a coach to assemble a competitive team,” he added.

While Ismed did not name specific local candidates, he stressed that whoever takes the job must demonstrate strong character and leadership qualities to serve as a role model for the players.

“The national team coach must have authority, vision, and be someone the players can look up to,” he said.

The call comes as PSSI continues its search for a new head coach, with public debate growing over whether Indonesia should again hire a foreign coach or trust a domestic tactician to lead the team forward.

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir said on Friday that the federation has ruled out bringing back fan favorite Shin Tae-yong, who led the team from 2020 to 2024.

He said it was time for both the organization and supporters to move on from the South Korean coach, whose tenure had inspired a loyal following among Indonesian fans.

“In my view, we have to move on. If we can move on from Patrick, we should also move on from Shin Tae-yong,” Erick said.

Kluivert was dismissed after failing to guide Indonesia to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting widespread speculation about his replacement. Many fans on social media called for Shin’s return, but Erick made it clear that both coaches now belong to “the past.”

“They are part of our history, and we must move forward -- learning from both their strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

Erick, who also serves as Youth and Sports Minister, said the federation is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the team’s recent coaching tenures to help determine the right profile for the next appointment.

“We’re looking at all aspects -- the shortcomings and advantages of the previous coaches -- to ensure we make the right choice for the next one,” he explained.

Still, Erick admitted that finding a top-tier coach would not be easy, given Indonesia’s current FIFA ranking outside the world’s top 100.

“I’m opening communications with many parties. Our ranking is still low, so convincing high-level coaches to come here isn’t simple,” he said.

The federation, Erick added, is now focusing on building a long-term program to strengthen the national team’s competitiveness. He said he has activated his international network to help recruit the right candidate and restore confidence in Indonesian football.

“I’m using my international connections to help rebuild our confidence and develop a long-term plan. Whatever happened before is part of our shared responsibility,” Erick said.

The PSSI chief also urged supporters to back the search process and avoid being trapped in nostalgia, stressing that the national team’s progress depends on unity and forward momentum.

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