Frank Van Kempen: Indonesian Talenta Extraordinary

JAKARTA Frank van Kempen immediately praised the Indonesian footballer talent after he was appointed by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to coach the U-20 national team.

The Dutch tactician was officially announced as the tactician for the Indonesian U-20 national team by PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

Frank van Kempen welcomed his new assignment and immediately praised the talents of Indonesian footballers. He also expressed his enthusiasm for joining the big Indonesian football project.

"Indonesia's young talent is extraordinary. My job is to create a bridge for development so that they can compete at the highest level, with the foundations of discipline, modern tactics, and hard work culture," said Frank.

Frank van Kempen is known as an experienced coach who has long been involved in the development of young players in Europe.

He has a background as engineering director of clubs' academy in Eredivisie, the Netherlands, as well as experience coaching age groups at the elite level. Kempen is considered to have the capacity to design a progressive and structured coaching system.

Erick Thohir called the appointment of Frank van Kempen part of a long-term strategy to ensure continuity of achievements between age groups.

"We need a trainer who is not only tactically qualified, but also understands the importance of the transition of players from the U20 age group to U23 and seniors. Frank van Kempen has a track record in this regard," he said.

Kempen's task is to bring Garuda Muda to achieve achievements in the AFF U-19 and AFC U-20 Qualification events. In addition, he will also screen superior talents who are ready to fill the needs of the upper level national team in stages and systematically.

The tactician who was born in Sevenum, January 6, 1972, is known to have experience as a young soccer coach. He has previously been an assistant coach of the Dutch U-20 national team for the 2014 to 2016 period.

Van Kempen's last position was to become assistant coach of VVV-Venlo, the Division Two club for the period July 2022 to June 30, 2024.

In addition, he has also been a head coach at several clubs such as NAC Breda U-21, Sparta U-21, Sparta U-19, VVV-Venlo II, Helmond U-21, and Roller JC U-19.