The arrival of Coach Patrick Kluivert and his Dutch-born star players has put Indonesian soccer in the spotlight like never before. Recently, The Guardian analyzed Indonesia’s naturalization policy, highlighting an insightful quote from player Duy Mạnh.
Indonesia fired Coach Shin Tae Yong to hire Dutch coach Patrick Kluivert (Photo: Getty).
Indonesia and Its Naturalization Strategy
The Guardian quoted Duy Mạnh, saying, “Sometimes we joke that we don’t know if we’re playing against the Indonesian team or the Dutch team.” This reflects the current composition of the Indonesian squad, which includes many Dutch-born players, making it resemble a “miniature Dutch team.”
Replacing Coach Shin Tae Yong with Patrick Kluivert is seen as a calculated risk for Indonesian soccer. However, this decision was not made lightly. The Indonesian team needed a coach who could effectively communicate and understand the cultural nuances of the Dutch-born players.
Achievements and Challenges
In recent matches, the Indonesian team defeated Saudi Arabia in the third round of World Cup 2026 qualifiers, thanks to the contributions of eight Dutch-born players. This demonstrates rapid improvement but also presents significant challenges for Coach Shin Tae Yong. His difficulty in communicating in English or Dutch, combined with the lack of interpreters, complicated the situation.
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir admitted that the team needed a coach capable of executing strategies more effectively and communicating better with the players. This led to the decision to replace Shin Tae Yong with Patrick Kluivert.
Indonesia is gradually becoming a miniature Dutch team (Photo: Getty).
Controversies Surrounding the Move
Many argue that Coach Shin Tae Yong was treated unfairly. His son, Shin Jae Won, even stated that the team would not succeed without his father. Even former Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed admiration for the Korean coach.
However, relying too heavily on naturalized players has sparked controversy. Is a team composed mainly of players born and raised abroad truly something to be proud of? This is a crucial question Indonesian soccer must address.
The Future of Indonesian Soccer
Patrick Kluivert is expected to bring positive changes to the Indonesian national team. With his high-level experience and reputation, he can persuade many Dutch-born players to switch allegiance from the Netherlands to Indonesia.
If Indonesia secures a spot at the World Cup, both Patrick Kluivert and Erick Thohir will be hailed as heroes. Yet, such success raises questions about the sustainability of the naturalization strategy.
Conclusion
Indonesian soccer is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of Dutch-born naturalized players and Coach Patrick Kluivert. However, the biggest challenge lies not just in on-field achievements but in balancing the naturalization strategy with the development of local talent. Only by addressing this issue can Indonesia build a strong and sustainable football culture.
