Coach Shin Tae Yong openly addresses rumors about returning to Indonesia instead of Patrick Kluivert

Coach Shin Tae Yong clarifies the rumors about returning to lead the Indonesian national team, affirming he has no plans to reunite with Indonesia amid the team's crisis under Patrick Kluivert.

In response to widespread speculation about a possible comeback as head coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae Yong has officially denied these claims. This information was reported by Korea Football News (South Korea) on October 13, citing confirmation from KBS Television.

According to South Korean media, recent rumors have suggested that Coach Shin Tae Yong might return to lead Indonesia after current coach Patrick Kluivert faces the risk of dismissal. This stems from Indonesia's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup following two consecutive losses to Saudi Arabia (2-3) and Iraq (0-1) in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers.

This disappointing performance has led Indonesian fans to urge PSSI to terminate Kluivert's contract promptly. On various forums, many supporters hope the federation will reappoint Shin Tae Yong, who previously led Indonesia’s U23 team to a gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games and made a strong impression with his modern, disciplined football style.

However, Coach Shin Tae Yong quickly dismissed these rumors. “I have no plans to return as head coach of the Indonesian national team,” he affirmed to South Korean media.

Meanwhile, PSSI stated that they will soon hold a comprehensive meeting to evaluate Coach Kluivert’s future. According to Mr. Sumardji, head of the Indonesian national teams delegation, “After every tournament, we hold an evaluation meeting. Reviewing performance results, future plans, and the coach’s role will be thoroughly discussed in the upcoming Exco meeting.”

It is known that Kluivert’s contract with PSSI runs until 2027, meaning if he is dismissed, the federation will have to pay a significant compensation fee.

Although the Dutch coach’s future remains undecided, debates around the head coach position of the Indonesian national team continue to be a major focus for football fans in the archipelago.