Key Takeaways
- John Herdman, former Canada men’s coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indonesia national team.
- Herdman sees a similar passion and commitment from the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) to bring World Cup qualification to the country.
- Indonesia has a large talent pool and a big country with a lot of potential, similar to Canada.
- The country has only made it to one World Cup, competing as Dutch East Indies in 1938.
- Herdman is looking forward to spending time in Indonesia to learn the culture and understand the people and customs.
Introduction to John Herdman’s New Role
John Herdman, the former Canada men’s coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indonesia national team. Herdman expressed his excitement about the new challenge, stating that he sees the same passion and commitment from the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) to bring World Cup qualification to the country. He also noted that the talent pool in Indonesia is similar to that of Canada, with a big country and a lot of potential, including the ability to recruit dual-nationals.
Indonesia’s Football History
Indonesia has a population of over 280 million, making it the fourth most populous country in the world. Despite its large population, the country has only made it to one World Cup, competing as Dutch East Indies in 1938. The team was eliminated in the first round after a 6-0 loss to Hungary. Since then, Indonesia has struggled to make an impact in international football, with its highest FIFA ranking being 76 in 1998 and its lowest ranking being 191 in 2016. The current ranking of the Indonesia men’s team is 23rd in the Asian Football Federation.
Herdman’s Experience and Qualifications
Herdman has a wealth of experience in coaching, having previously coached the Canada men’s and women’s teams. He led the Canadian women’s team to two Olympic bronze medals and the men’s team to a career-high 33rd ranking in the FIFA world rankings. Herdman stepped down as Canada men’s coach in August 2023 to take over Toronto FC, but resigned after one full season. He was also linked to a culture of spying within Canada Soccer, which led to a written admonishment from an independent committee. Despite this, Herdman has maintained that he has always led with integrity, transparency, and a deep respect for the game.
Indonesia’s Recent Performance
Indonesia has shown some promise in recent years, opening its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 12-0 aggregate victory over Brunei. The team then finished runner-up to Iraq in the second-round group stage and made it to the fourth round after finishing fourth in the third round. However, Indonesia’s qualifying run ended in October with losses to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with both games played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudis booked their ticket to the World Cup, while Iraq moved into a FIFA playoff.
Herdman’s Approach to Coaching
Herdman is looking forward to spending time in Indonesia to learn the culture and understand the people and customs. He believes that this is an important part of building a connection with the team and the country. Herdman is scheduled to leave for Indonesia next week ahead of an introductory news conference, where he will outline his vision for the team. With his experience and qualifications, Herdman is well-placed to make a positive impact on Indonesian football and help the team achieve its goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Herdman’s appointment as the new head coach of the Indonesia national team is an exciting development for Indonesian football. With his experience and qualifications, Herdman is well-placed to make a positive impact on the team and help it achieve its goal of qualifying for the World Cup. Herdman’s approach to coaching, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the culture and customs of the country, is also likely to be beneficial in building a strong connection with the team and the country. As Herdman begins his new role, Indonesian football fans will be watching with interest to see how he can help the team achieve its goals.