Jakarta – The search continues for a new head coach of the Indonesian national team following last month’s removal of Patrick Kluivert after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Amidst speculation, former Rangers and Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has emerged as a leading candidate, prompting comment from PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir on Tuesday [[1]]. The potential appointment gains added nuance given van Bronckhorst’s familial ties to the Maluku Islands, offering a compelling narrative as the PSSI considers its next move.
Jakarta –
Rumors are intensifying that Giovanni van Bronckhorst is a leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Indonesian national team. PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir addressed the speculation on Tuesday.
The Indonesian national team is currently without a manager following the dismissal of Patrick Kluivert last month after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Several names have surfaced in the search for a new coach, including Timur Kapadze, who visited Jakarta last week to meet with key figures in Indonesian football.
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PSSI officials have stated that Kapadze’s visit was not initiated by the organization. Now, Van Bronckhorst has emerged as another strong contender to replace Kluivert.
The former Rangers and Feyenoord manager, who currently serves as an assistant coach at Liverpool, has Indonesian heritage through his father, who hails from the Maluku Islands. Taking the helm of his ancestral nation would undoubtedly be a source of pride for the 47-year-old.
According to Football Insider 247, Liverpool are reportedly prepared to negotiate with PSSI should they seriously pursue Van Bronckhorst. PSSI would likely need to pay compensation to honor Van Bronckhorst’s contract, which began this past summer.
Van Bronckhorst was brought in by Arne Slot to succeed John Heitinga, who moved to Ajax Amsterdam. Throughout his managerial career with clubs like Feyenoord, Guangzhou City, Rangers, and Besiktas, Van Bronckhorst has maintained a 58 percent win rate.
When questioned about the rumors, Erick Thohir refrained from providing a definitive answer. “We don’t know yet (about Giovanni van Bronckhorst). Whether it’s another candidate from the Netherlands? We don’t know yet either,” Erick said when approached by reporters at the State Palace on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
(mrp/yna)
