Home » Indonesia Football Federation sacked Coach Shin Tae-Yong, New Coach Announcement on January 11

Indonesia Football Federation sacked Coach Shin Tae-Yong, New Coach Announcement on January 11

Indonesia sacked their head coach Shin Tae-Yong as the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) confirmed on January 6 and planned to announce his replacement on January 11.

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Speculations Confirmed

Rumors about Shin’s dismissal began three days ago, sparked by an article from Italian newspaper Tuttosport. A PSSI Executive Committee member later fueled speculation by posting a farewell message and photos of the South Korean coach.

PSSI President Erick Thohir announced the decision at a press conference, stating that Shin agreed to leave the team. Thohir thanked Shin for his contributions over the past five years, emphasizing that their relationship remained amicable. “We’ve always worked together with the best intentions for the team,” Thohir said.

Reasons for the Change as Shin Tae-Yong failed to put Indonesia through to semifinal at the 2024 ASEAN Cup

While Indonesia’s early exit from the 2024 ASEAN Cup was disappointing, Thohir clarified it was not the main reason for Shin’s departure. The decision had been considered since October 2024, after a reported conflict between Shin and several players during a 1-2 loss to China in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Thohir explained that firing Shin immediately was premature due to ongoing preparations for other matches. “This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s something we’ve been evaluating for the past two and a half months,” he added.

PSSI believes a new coach is needed to implement strategies better and communicate effectively with the current squad. Shin’s contract, extended in April 2024 and valid until 2027, was terminated early with mutual agreement.

Shin Tae-Yong has achieved zero significant achievements as team’s headcoach

Shin Tae-yong is a celebrated figure in South Korean football. He led Seongnam FC to victory in the 2010 AFC Champions League and the 2011 Korean FA Cup. He also had notable success with South Korea’s national teams, including reaching the Rio 2016 Olympic quarterfinals, advancing to the knockout stages of the U20 World Cup 2017, and famously defeating defending champions Germany 2-0 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Under Shin, Indonesia achieved historic milestones:

• Advanced to the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup.
• Reached the semifinals of the 2024 U23 Asian Cup.
• Qualified for the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

These accomplishments have drawn comparisons in South Korea to Park Hang-seo, the highly successful coach of Vietnam’s national team from 2018 to 2023.

What’s Next for Indonesia?

Thohir confirmed that PSSI has already selected Shin’s replacement, who will be officially introduced on January 11. A press conference with the new coach is scheduled for January 12. The primary goal remains clear: securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Indonesia currently sits third in Group C of the qualifiers, tied with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China on six points. They are one point behind Australia and ten points behind group leaders Japan.

The new coach will debut in two critical matches in March:

• March 20: Away against Australia.
• March 25: Home against Bahrain.

The team will face China at home on June 5 and travel to Japan on June 10. The road ahead will be challenging, but Indonesia hopes to build on Shin’s legacy and reach new heights under their new coach.