Indonesian National Team Players Warmly Welcome Patrick Kluivert As New Coach

Indonesian National Team Coach Patrick Kluivert (right) walked out upon arrival at Terminal 3 of Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, (photo: dock. between)

JAKARTA A number of Indonesian national team players welcomed Patrick Kluivert, the new coach of the Garuda team. This warm speech was conveyed through a one-minute video uploaded to the official Instagram account of the Indonesian national team.

Players such as Ragnar Oratmangoen, Jay Idzes, Mets Hilgers, Rafael Struick, Marselino Ferdinand, and Nadeo Argawinata seemed enthusiastic about the arrival of the Dutch football legend.

"Welcome to Indonesia, Coach Patrick Kluiver," said national team U-17 coach Nova Arianto in the video.

Ragnar Oratmangoen also gave a special message to Kluiver. "I hope you can work with you soon," he said excitedly.

Apart from the players, congratulations were also conveyed by the Director of Engineering for the Indonesian National Team, Indra Sjafri, who was optimistic about the presence of Kluivert as a new figure in the national team.

Patrick Kluivert was appointed coach of the Indonesian national team replacing Shin Tae-yong who was dismissed by PSSI on Monday, January 6. The 48-year-old coach was officially announced as a replacement on Wednesday, January 8.

Kluivert, who coached Adana Demirspor and became assistant coach of the Dutch national team, was contracted for two years with the option of a two-year extension. He will be accompanied by two assistant coaches from the Netherlands, Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat, as well as two Indonesian local coaches.

The arrival of Kluivert brings new hope for the Indonesian national team, especially ahead of an important match in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone. With his experience and track record, it is hoped that he will be able to lift the performance of the Garuda squad to a higher level.

The players and staff of the national team stated that they are ready to work together to achieve the best results under the leadership of Kluivert. This warm welcome is a positive first step for a coach who has also shined as a player with Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona.