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PSSI to unveil European coach after sacking South Korean

Shin had been in charge since 2020 and took Indonesia into the decisive third round of qualifying, where they sit third out of six teams in their group.

Agencies
Jakarta
Mon, January 6, 2025

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PSSI to unveil European coach after sacking South Korean Play to win: Businessman Erick Thohir, now chair of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister, attends a news conference with Chinese retailer Suning and Italy's Inter Milan in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China on June 6, 2016. (Reuters/Aly Song)

T

he Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) fired the South Korean Shin Tae-yong on Monday and will unveil an unnamed European coach this weekend with their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup still alive.

Shin had been in charge since 2020 and took Indonesia into the decisive third round of qualifying, where they sit third out of six teams in their group.

The top two go straight to the World Cup with third and fourth going into another round of qualifying.

Erick Thohir, chairman of PSSI, said the 54-year-old had been sacked because of communication issues and poor recent performances.

Indonesia have already hired a replacement from Europe and he will be introduced to the public on Sunday, Erick said.

"Coach Shin Tae-yong has received the paperwork and there will be further process on our ending partnership," Erick told a press conference.

"Once again I'd like to thank him."

Erick, who said he had interviewed three candidates to replace Shin during a recent trip to Europe, was not concerned that changing coaches in the middle of the campaign would disrupt the team.

"It's normal. Lots of countries switch coaches during World Cup qualifiers," he added. 

"This is something we've been discussing for many months back, but I think the moment is right, because we still have 2 1/2 months preparation for next games.

"We still have four matches and we want to get as many points as we can."

Indonesia, who have naturalised a dozen players born in the Netherlands, lost 2-1 at home to China and then were thrashed 4-0 by Japan in November in qualifying for the World Cup in North America.

They then defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta and remain firmly in with a shout of qualifying for the competition for the first time since the country gained independence in 1945.

Shin, who managed his native South Korea at the 2018 World Cup, had been contracted until 2027.

Indonesia's next World Cup qualifier is a crunch trip to Australia, who are second in the group but just a point ahead, in March.

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