Coach Shin Tae Yong, recently fired by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), has shared candid insights with Korean media about his abrupt dismissal. His revelations have sparked heated debates in Asian football.
Coach Shin Tae Yong disclosed that PSSI informed him of his dismissal at around 9:40 AM on January 6th, just three hours before announcing the new coach for the Indonesian team (Photo: Do Minh Quan).
According to Coach Shin Tae Yong, PSSI notified him of his termination at approximately 9:40 AM on January 6th. Notably, they announced the new coach, Patrick Kluivert, less than three hours later. He commented, “I don’t understand PSSI’s way of handling this, but my duty is to accept the decision. I gladly accepted it.”
Patrick Kluivert, the former Dutch star, replaced Coach Shin Tae Yong. This move was seen as an attempt to appease the significant number of naturalized players from the Netherlands who play key roles in the Indonesian national team.
Coach Shin Tae Yong leaves to make way for Coach Patrick Kluivert (Photo: Getty).
Prior to this role, Patrick Kluivert had minimal experience coaching top-tier teams, having briefly led the obscure Curacao team. In contrast, Coach Shin Tae Yong is a seasoned professional with World Cup credentials, leading South Korea to defeat Germany in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Coach Shin Tae Yong takes pride in his accomplishments during his five years in Indonesia: “I did well during this time. I am proud of it. When I left, I took with me the pride of laying important groundwork for the development of Indonesian football.”
Under Coach Shin Tae Yong, the Indonesian national team secured three victories against Vietnam, including two matches in the second round of World Cup 2026 Asian qualifiers and one in the 2023 Asian Cup.
After his dismissal, Coach Shin Tae Yong received a compensation package worth approximately $4.8 million from PSSI, covering more than two years of remaining salary and unemployment insurance.
Coach Shin Tae Yong’s revelations not only clarify how he was dismissed but also raise questions about PSSI’s long-term strategy. Will this change lead to success, or is it a risky move?
