Tag: Kluivert

  • Indonesia path ways  with Kluivert  after World Cup miss

    Indonesia path ways  with Kluivert  after World Cup miss

    Patrick Kluivert’s stint as Indonesia coach is over after they “mutually” agreed to part ways following a failed bid to reach the World Cup.

    Indonesia’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament in North America next year ended with defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the past week.

    The 49-year-old Netherlands and Barcelona great, who was only appointed in January, was in charge for just eight matches.

    He won three of his games in charge, losing four and drawing one.

    Writing on Instagram, Kluivert called it “an unforgettable journey”.

    He added: “Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together.”

    The Dutchman took over following the controversial sacking of South Korean Shin Tae-yong.

    The former striker signed a two-year contract at the start of the year, tasked with taking Indonesia to their first World Cup since gaining independence in 1945.

    The Football Association of Indonesia, PSSI, said Kluivert’s departure was “through mutual termination”.

     “This step was taken as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the national football coaching and development programme,” it added.

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    The statement did not name Kluivert’s successor.

    Amsterdam-born Kluivert retired as a player in 2008 after a stellar career that started at Ajax, where he won the Champions League, before moves to AC Milan and Barcelona.

    Kluivert’s managerial career has not been nearly as spectacular.

    His previous coaching role was in charge of Adana Demirspor in Turkey for five months in 2023.

    Before that he was caretaker manager of Curacao in 2021.

    He was also number two to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national side in 2012-2014.

  • Indonesia name Dutch legend Kluivert as head coach

    Indonesia name Dutch legend Kluivert as head coach

    Indonesia have named former Netherlands and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert as their head coach.

    The 48-year-old replaces South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, and will look to qualify his new side for the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026.

    Kluivert, who won the Champions League with Ajax and played in the Premier League for Newcastle, has signed a two-year contract with the option for an extension.

    The southeast Asian nation have only previously qualified for the tournament once, playing in the 1938 edition while they were still the Dutch East Indies.

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    The Dutchman’s first assignment will be a third qualifying round tie with Australia in March, with two countries from their six-team group reaching the World Cup automatically and a further two heading into a further round.

    Indonesia, who are 127th in the Fifa rankings, sit third in their group after six of 10 games.

    Kluivert last managed a team in 2023, when he took charge of Turkish side Adana Demirspor for a five-month spell.

    He has previously had two spells in charge of Curacao and assisted Louis van Gaal and Clarence Seedorf when they led the Netherlands and Cameroon national sides respectively.

    BBC