Responding To The News That Shin Tae-yong Got Offers From Other Countries, PSSI Affirms Professionality

Shin Tae-yong still has a solid agenda with the Indonesian national team during the 2023 Asian Cup (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair (Ketum), Erick Thohir, responded to the news about Shin Tae-yong who received an offer to coach other countries. This news emerged after the Indonesian national team appeared slick until the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

The chairman of PSSI admitted that he could not refuse if the coach chose to leave for another country. However, one thing he emphasized was about professionalism.

"I'm a professional, so I adhere to that principle. If coach Shin wants to resign, I can't refuse," said the chairman of PSSI.

Although it seems that he has no problem with Shin Tae-yong's decision, Erick discussed the agreement that has been established before. He said there are two parameters that can be a benchmark for the performance of the South Korean coach.

"However, the agreement between me and Shin Tae-yong, whose contract expires until June 2024, has two parameters, namely the Indonesian national team has passed the last 16 of the Asian Cup and the last eight of the U-23 Asian Cup for our young national team. We have that commitment, then talk about extensions for 2027," he said.

Erick further stated that although so far he is satisfied with Shin Tae-yong's performance, PSSI must set an achievement target at the Asian level for the coach who has handled the Indonesian national team since 2019.

"Therefore, in the U-23 Asian Cup, April 2024, Indonesia must be able to talk a lot. Moreover, many of our U-23 players were included in the senior Indonesian national team squad yesterday and several players were often starting eleven. That's a huge capital for him (Shin Tae-yong) to make a surprise," said Erick.

In the U-23 Asian Cup later, Indonesia will join group A with Qatar, Jordan, and Australia. The competition in the U-23 Asian Cup is much tougher.

The tournament was attended by 16 countries and divided into four groups. The top two rankings of each group qualify for the knockout or last eight round.