Merapat ke Timnas Indonesia, John Herdman Dipastikan Bakal Didampingi Asisten Lokal

John Herdman will be accompanied by a local assistant coach when he manages the Indonesian National Team (doc. Kita Garuda).

JAKARTA - Indonesian national team coach John Herdman will carry out his duties accompanied by two foreign assistants. However, he is also confirmed to include a local assistant in the coaching team.

This is what was conveyed by the Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji. However, Sumardji emphasized that the number of assistants could still increase because it depends on the situation and conditions.

"So, if it's related to the assistant coach, yes, according to what was said, it's possible for the foreign assistant to be two."

"It's possible, yes, you can see, you will see the situation later. It's not certain, yes, it means two possibilities, it could also be more," said Sumardji in a statement quoted Friday, January 9, 2026.

Regarding the figure of the foreign assistant who will be Herdman, Sumardji is still keeping it tight. Likewise with the local assistant who he thinks will be determined by Herdman himself when he arrives in Indonesia.

"If (assistant coach) is local, we are currently preparing several names, especially those with good potential and young coaches who have a vision for the future, good, later I will convey their names to John," he said.

Regarding the local coach who will be Herdman's assistant, Sumardji said PSSI gave the 50-year-old coach full freedom.

However, he emphasized that the presence of local coaches in the coaching staff of the Indonesian National Team remains an important thing.

Moreover, PSSI certainly does not want the experience in the era of Patrick Kluivert to be repeated, when the entire coaching staff was filled with foreign coaches, namely Alex Pastoor, Denny Landzaat, and Gerald Vanenburg.

"Well, later let John himself interview, let him choose, whether from which side, 'kan assistant coach in this area is a lot."

"There is a physical assistant coach, there is a goalkeeper assistant coach, and there is an assistant coach for defense, attack, and so on. So, later I will convey it in full, statistics rather than each of these local assistant coaches," said Sumardji.