Patrick Kluivert’s tenure as head coach of Indonesia has come to an end after he and the country’s football federation “mutually” agreed to part ways on Thursday, following the team’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the World Cup.
Indonesia’s World Cup dreams were dashed after back-to-back defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia over the past week.
The 49-year-old former Netherlands and Barcelona star, who took charge in January, managed only eight games, winning three, drawing one, and losing four.
In a message shared on Instagram, Kluivert described his experience as “an unforgettable journey.”
He wrote, “Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together.”
Kluivert’s appointment came after the controversial dismissal of South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong. He had signed a two-year deal earlier this year, with the goal of leading Indonesia to their first-ever World Cup since independence in 1945.
The Football Association of Indonesia confirmed his exit, describing it as a “mutual termination.”
“This step was taken as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the national football coaching and development programme,” the PSSI said in a statement, without naming his replacement.
Born in Amsterdam, Kluivert retired from professional football in 2008 after a glittering playing career that began at Ajax, where he won the Champions League, before spells with AC Milan and Barcelona.
However, his managerial path has been far less decorated. His most recent role before Indonesia was with Turkish club Adana Demirspor, where he lasted five months in 2023.
He also served briefly as caretaker manager of Curaçao in 2021 and was assistant to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national team between 2012 and 2014.
