Seeking to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America, the Indonesia announced, this Wednesday (8), the hiring of former Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert as a new coach. He will have compatriots Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat as assistants.
Former Milan, Ajax and Barcelona player, Kluivert, who scored 40 goals in 79 games for the Dutch national team, takes place after , on Monday (6).
Kluivert, 48, who won the 1995 title as one of Ajax’s greatest players, has signed a contract until 2027, with the option of an extension, the country’s football federation said in a statement.
Indonesia are in third place in Group C after six of 10 matches in the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the , one point behind Australia in the battle for the second direct place at the World Cup and within the play-off range.
Since ending his playing career in 2008, Kluivert has held several positions, including coach of Adana Demirspor, in Turkey, and the Curaçao national team. He was also football director at PSG, assistant at the Netherlands and Cameroon and youth coach at Ajax.
Kluivert will be presented in Jakarta on Sunday (12). Indonesia’s first official match in charge will be against Australia on March 20. Indonesia’s only World Cup appearance came in 1938 as the Dutch East Indies.
