Recently, the Indonesia national football team has shown its strength on the international stage. Besides having skilled players, the coaches of the Indonesia national team have also played a major role in the development and success of football in the country.
Shin Tae-yong is certainly no longer unfamiliar to football fans in Indonesia. The South Korean coach managed to bring the Indonesia national team to the third round of World Cup qualification and the playoff stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The position of Indonesia national team coach is certainly not given to just anyone. From one era to another, the national team has been trained to master various football tactics. Not only dribbling techniques are honed, but national team coaches also develop many other skills to bring out the best performance from Indonesian players.
If you are still not familiar with the journey of Indonesia national team coaches from the early 1950s to the present, take a look at the full overview below.
List of Indonesia National Team Coaches from Year to Year
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) was established in 1930. However, the first coach of the Indonesia national team was only appointed in the early 1950s. As the first coach of the Indonesia national team, Choo Seng Quee faced significant challenges.
The Singaporean coach had to deal with Indonesian football, which was still in its early development stage. Stadium infrastructure and facilities for training players were also very limited. However, his discipline and firmness helped build the players’ mentality and fighting spirit at the time.
After Choo Seng Quee, the Indonesia national team coaches changed from one era to another. Below is a summary of Indonesia national team coaches up to Shin Tae-yong:
|
Year |
Coaches |
|
1951 - 1953 |
Choo Seng Quee |
|
1954 - 1963 |
Antun Pogacnik |
|
1966 - 1970 |
EA Mangindaan |
|
1970 |
Endang Witarsa |
|
1971 - 1972 |
Djamat Dalhar |
|
1972 - 1973 |
Endang Witarsa |
|
1975 - 1976 |
Wiel Coerver |
|
1977 |
Antun Pogacnik |
|
1977 |
Suwardi Arland |
|
1979 |
Marek Janota |
|
1979 |
Wiel Coerver |
|
1980 |
Frans Van Balkom |
|
1980 - 1981 |
Harry Tjong |
|
1981 |
Endang Witarsa |
|
1981 |
Bernd Fischer |
|
1983 |
Iswadi Idris |
|
1983 |
M. Basri |
|
1985 |
Sinyo Aliandoe |
|
1985 |
Harry Tjong |
|
1986 - 1988 |
Bertje Matulapelwa |
|
1989 |
M. Basri |
|
1990 - 1992 |
Anatoly Polosin |
|
1992 |
Danurwindo |
|
1992 - 1993 |
Ivan Toplak |
|
1994 |
Anatoly Polosin |
|
1995 |
Romano Matte |
|
1996 |
Danurwindo |
|
1997 |
Henk Wullems |
|
1998 |
Rusdy Bahalwan |
|
1999 |
Bernard Schumm |
|
1999 - 2000 |
Nandar Iskandar |
|
2000 |
Danajaya |
|
2001 |
Benny Dolo |
|
2002 - 2004 |
Ivan Kolev |
|
2004 - 2007 |
Peter White |
|
2007 |
Ivan Kolev |
|
2008 - 2010 |
Benny Dolo |
|
2010 - 2011 |
Alfred Riedl |
|
2011 - 2012 |
Wim Rijsbergen |
|
2012 |
Aji Santoso |
|
2012 - 2013 |
Nil Maizar |
|
2013 |
Luis Manuel Blanco |
|
2013 |
Jacksen F. Tiago |
|
2013 - 2014 |
Alfred Riedl |
|
2015 |
Benny Dollo |
|
2015 |
Pieter Huistra |
|
2016 |
Alfred Riedl |
|
2017 - 2018 |
Luis Milla |
|
2018 |
Bima Sakti Tukiman |
|
2018 - 2019 |
Simon McMenemy |
|
2019 - present |
Shin Tae-yong |
Achievements of the Indonesia National Team Under Shin Tae-yong
Shin Tae-yong, who is currently the coach of the Indonesia national team, has very strong statistics. While leading the Indonesian national football team, Shin Tae-yong has won 24 out of 47 matches. Ten of those ended in draws and 13 in losses.
The Indonesia national team, which used to compete with Cambodia, Laos, and Timor-Leste, has now moved up to a higher level. The current competitors of the Indonesia national team are Iraq, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. In summary, the achievements of the Indonesian national football team under Shin Tae-yong are as follows:
1. Qualified for the Asia Cup Back to Back
The current Indonesia national team coach, Shin Tae-yong, has successfully led Indonesia to qualify for the Asia Cup in back-to-back tournaments. After finishing as runners-up in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Indonesia secured a spot in the 2027 Asia Cup after previously qualifying for the 2024 Asian Cup. This achievement was highlighted by reaching the Round of 16.
2. Semifinalists in Their Debut at the U-23 Asia Cup
The U-23 national team’s debut in Qatar in 2024 is something worth celebrating. Although it was their first appearance, the U-24 team was able to reach the semifinals after defeating the South Korea U-23 national team in the quarterfinals.
3. Rising FIFA World Ranking
The Indonesia National Team’s FIFA Ranking has improved under Shin Tae-yong’s leadership. Indonesia, which previously ranked 134 in June 2024, rose to 132nd place in September 2024.
4. Qualified for the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers
Indonesia secured a runner-up position, which earned them a spot in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This achievement placed the Garuda team in Group F alongside strong teams such as Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Japan. The last time Indonesia reached the World Cup qualification third round was in 1986.
Challenges Faced by Shin Tae-yong
Although he has successfully taken the Indonesia national team to a higher level, Shin Tae-yong’s journey has not been smooth. One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to Indonesia’s different football culture. Indonesian players, who often have playing styles that differ from Shin Tae-yong’s philosophy, needed time to adjust to his coaching methods.
Moreover, infrastructure issues and support from PSSI have also been challenges he had to face. With limited training facilities and other logistical problems, Shin Tae-yong has had to work extremely hard to ensure the Indonesia national team can still compete at the international level.
However, Shin Tae-yong did not give up. With a persistent approach and determination to bring Indonesia to a higher level, he succeeded in making major changes to the team. His discipline in training, focus on mental strength, and the strategies he implemented have started to produce encouraging results.
That concludes the overview of Indonesia national team coaches, from historical figures to the achievements under Shin Tae-yong. However, the team’s journey does not stop here. More challenging competitions still lie ahead, so continue supporting the national team.
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