Sumardji Officially Leaves His Duties as Manager of the Indonesian National Team
JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, officially announced his decision to leave his duties as Manager of the Indonesian National Team.
This news was conveyed by Sumardji at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. On this occasion, PSSI also announced the separation with the coach of the Indonesian U-23 National Team, Indra Sjafri.
"It so happens that I also accompanied coach Indra Sjafri at the 2025 SEA Games. I will hand over my duties and responsibilities as the Indonesian National Team Manager, both senior and age group teams, including here in it there is a Manager of the Indonesian National Team U-23 for the SEA Games," said Sumardji.
After deciding not to serve as the Indonesian National Team Manager, the vacant position was then handed over to the PSSI General Chairman, Erick Thohir, to later decide who the successor to Sumardji.
On the same occasion, Sumardji also explained one of the reasons for his resignation from the position of Indonesian National Team Manager was because he wanted to focus as the Chairman of BTN. According to him, the task and hand of BTN will be very heavy in the future.
"I will hand over the responsibility I have been carrying out so far to the General Chairman so that the Indonesian National Team Manager will be found the most appropriate figure in the future."
"The most sincere and most responsible, the best for the future. Furthermore, I will focus on BTN because in the future it is related to the tasks that must be done," said Sumardji.
Sumardji has filled the position of Indonesian National Team Manager since the era of Mochamad Iriawan's leadership at PSSI in 2019. When Erick leads PSSI in 2023, his position will not change.
Previously, Sumardji was also the manager of the Indonesian U-19 National Team in 2019. He also served as the manager of the Indonesian U-23 National Team when it won the gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.