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View all search resultsHope, scrutiny surround Herdman’s appointment as Indonesia coach
A non-technical issue casts a shadow over Herdman’s reputation, following his links to a disciplinary controversy involving the alleged use of drones to spy on opponents during his time with Canada.
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John Herdman, then head coach of Toronto FC, speaks at a press conference during a MLS media day event at the Miami Convention Center on Jan. 11, 2024, in Miami, Florida, the United States. (AFP/Getty Images North America/Rich Storry)
T
he appointment of 50-year-old Englishman John Herdman as the new coach of Indonesia’s national soccer team has stirred high expectations among analysts keen to see his international credentials at work, even as concerns linger over his past disciplinary issues.
The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) confirmed Herdman’s appointment for the men’s senior and U-23 teams on Saturday, ending months of uncertainty following the departure of Dutchman Patrick Kluivert, whose brief tenure ended after Indonesia failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup last year.
Unlike Kluivert’s relatively limited coaching resume, Herdman brings extensive international experience spanning the Olympic Games and the prestigious FIFA World Cup, a point emphasized by the PSSI.
“This is the moment when the PSSI and Indonesian football enter a new era, where [the national team] will be handled by a coach who has qualified for the World Cup," PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir said on Saturday, as quoted by Antara.
After starting his coaching career in New Zealand, Herdman later gained recognition for his contributions to Canadian soccer, becoming the first coach to lead both a women’s and men’s national team from the same country to a FIFA World Cup.
Read also: Former Canada coach Herdman named Indonesia's soccer head coach
He guided Canada’s men’s team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the country’s first appearance at the tournament in 36 years, a run that coincided with a dramatic rise in Canada’s FIFA ranking.
