DomainJava .COM – Patrick Kluivert revealed how his intensive communication with the General Chair of PSSI, Erick Thohir, began.
This moment occurred during the 2023 Asian Cup, where the Indonesian national team made history by qualifying for the round of 16.
Kluivert said that he met Erick Thohir at one of the Indonesian national team matches.
READ ALSO: When will Patrick Kluivert officially train the Indonesian National Team? Check out his progress
“I was there with my manager, Soufian Asafiati at an Indonesian national team match, we talked with the General Chair of PSSI, Erick Thohir. “Since then, we have continued to communicate,” said Kluivert, quoted by De Telegraaf.
However, the initial conversation was not related to Kluivert’s plans to become coach of the Indonesian National Team, because at that time the Garuda squad was still being handled by Shin Tae-yong.
Now, after the official announcement from PSSI, Patrick Kluivert will become the new coach of the Indonesian National Team.
Big challenges await him, including preparing the Garuda squad to face Australia and Bahrain in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in March 2025.
Kluivert started his coaching career in 2008 as attack coach for AZ Alkmaar.
Most of his career was spent as an assistant coach and youth team coach. Kluivert has just received the role of head coach at the Curacao National Team (2015-2016, 2021) and Adana Demirspor (2023).
In a total of 34 senior team matches he managed, Kluivert had a winning percentage of 35.29% with a higher goal-conceding ratio, namely 1.47.
Patrick Kluivert’s Classy Career
Kluivert’s coaching career began at FC Twente U21 (2011–2013).
However, his work as a senior team coach has not been as bright as his career as a player. Statistics show that from a total of 34 matches as a club and national team coach, he recorded 12 wins, 10 draws and 12 losses, with a winning percentage of 35.29 percent.
The following are Patrick Kluivert’s statistics when he was the senior team coach:
Adana Demirspor, 20 matches (8 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses)
Curacao National Team, 8 matches (3 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses)
Curacao National Team, caretaker 6 matches (1 win, 2 draws, 3 losses)
One of his achievements was bringing the Curacao National Team to the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifications in the CONCACAF zone, even though he has not succeeded in presenting a trophy throughout his coaching career.
