The Indonesian national team is undergoing a significant transformation under the leadership of coach Patrick Kluivert. One of the key strategies he has proposed is to naturalize players to elevate the team’s performance. The first player targeted for this initiative is Jairo Riedewald, a former Premier League star.
Jairo Riedewald played 7 years for Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Jairo Riedewald: A Versatile Player with Gold Potential
Born in 1996, Jairo Riedewald currently plays for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian First Division A. Previously, he spent 7 years at Crystal Palace in the Premier League, making 97 appearances and scoring 3 goals. His versatility allows him to play as both a defensive midfielder and a center-back, adding flexibility to the team’s tactics.
Although Riedewald has represented the Netherlands national team three times, he is eligible to change his nationality according to FIFA rules because those appearances were made before he turned 21. This factor facilitates Indonesia’s efforts to expedite his naturalization process.
Coach Patrick Kluivert has expressed his desire to bring Jairo to the Indonesian team: “I want him to become a citizen as soon as possible. We need quality players to build a cohesive team between naturalized and local players.” PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir confirmed that the naturalization approval process is being expedited quickly.
Jairo Riedewald promises to strengthen Indonesia’s defensive line.
Balancing Naturalized Players and Locals
While placing high hopes on naturalized players, Coach Kluivert emphasizes that he does not neglect local talents. He stated: “I want to elevate local players by training them to meet physical and mental standards. They need to control the ball well and understand their roles on the field.”
This balanced strategy is expected to help Indonesia rise stronger in the region. Currently, the Indonesian national team is ranked third in Group C of the third round of World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with 6 points from 6 matches, only behind Japan and Australia. This demonstrates that naturalizing players is not just theoretical but also practical.
A New Path for Indonesian Football
Indonesia’s urgent effort to naturalize Jairo Riedewald reflects PSSI’s ambition to enhance the country’s standing in Asian football. If successful, Garuda (the nickname for the Indonesian national team) could become a competitive force in the region. With Coach Patrick Kluivert’s guidance and strategic planning, Indonesian football fans have reason to hope for a brighter future. Will Jairo Riedewald be the perfect piece to turn Indonesia’s World Cup dream into reality? Let’s wait and see!
References
- Dantri.com.vn
- Reuters
- BBC
