Coach Park Hang Seo is expected to lead the Indonesian national team.

Indonesian football expert Supriyono Prima has voiced his desire for Coach Park Hang Seo to lead the Indonesian national team.

Amidst the intense uncertainty surrounding the head coach position of the Indonesian national team following their failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, football expert Supriyono Prima suggested that the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) consider appointing Park Hang Seo, former head coach of Vietnam, to the “hot seat” of the archipelago’s team.

Speaking to CNN Indonesia, Supriyono stated that the Korean coach is the most suitable candidate to help rebuild the Indonesian team after a period of decline. According to him, Park Hang Seo is not only experienced but also deeply understands the characteristics of Southeast Asian football, a key factor for success.

“I really want to see Park Hang Seo leading Indonesia. When he coached Vietnam, that team became ‘crazy’ in the best sense — strong, disciplined, and with a distinct identity at every level of the squad,” Supriyono commented.

He emphasized that Park Hang Seo’s role in the rise of Vietnamese football is the clearest proof of the Korean strategist’s capability. During his five years coaching Vietnam (2017–2022), he brought numerous titles and historic milestones, including the 2018 AFF Cup championship, two SEA Games gold medals (2019, 2021), reaching the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup, and advancing Vietnam to the final round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

“He has a deep understanding of football in this region, from playing style to player psychology. That is crucial to restoring fighting spirit and discipline in the Indonesian team,” Supriyono added.

Besides Coach Park Hang Seo, Supriyono also mentioned Alex Pastoor, currently an assistant coach of the Indonesian team, as another potential candidate. According to him, Pastoor has an impressive record, having helped three clubs — Excelsior (2010), Sparta Rotterdam (2016), and Almere City (2023) — get promoted to the Eredivisie (Netherlands). However, the expert believes Park Hang Seo remains the better fit due to his regional knowledge and experience in Southeast Asia.

“Alex Pastoor is a skilled coach, but Park Hang Seo possesses what Indonesia currently lacks: profound insight into regional football and the ability to elevate players’ morale,” Supriyono affirmed.

Meanwhile, Coach Patrick Kluivert, who is currently in charge of the Indonesian team, is reportedly facing the risk of losing his job after failing to achieve the goal of qualifying the team for the 2026 World Cup. Increasing pressure from public opinion and the media forces PSSI to seriously consider replacement options.

If they choose Coach Park Hang Seo, Indonesian football might enter a new era where discipline, fighting spirit, and Southeast Asian resilience are revived, similar to what he accomplished with Vietnam.