Indonesia makes an unexpected demand of the coach who has previously participated in the World Cup

The PSSI requires coach John Herdman to live permanently in Indonesia if he agrees to coach the national team, at a time when there is skepticism about his ability to adjust.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is finalizing the last steps before announcing the identity of the new head coach for the national team. The name being mentioned is John Herdman, the English strategist who helped Canada qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

According to Indonesian media, during an online interview between PSSI and Herdman, one of the key conditions set by the association was that the coach must agree to live long-term in Indonesia to facilitate monitoring domestic leagues and developing young players.

Coach Toni Ho, one of the veteran managers in Indonesian football, believes this requirement reflects PSSI’s direction following the success of coach Shin Tae-yong. “Shin is the ideal example. He has been committed to Indonesia for many years, diligently monitoring players and dedicating all his energy to our football,” Toni Ho shared.

However, the Makassar-born coach also expressed doubts about the feasibility of this demand. “If Shin Tae-yong has proven effective, why not just continue his contract? Setting the same condition for the new coach is both contradictory and unrealistic,” he said.

Additionally, Toni Ho worries that John Herdman might find it difficult to adapt to life in Indonesia. “Herdman comes from European and North American environments where the lifestyle and culture are completely different. Upon arrival, he will definitely experience culture shock. I’m not sure he can stay long unless he is an explorer at heart,” he analyzed.

Not only is the culture different, but Herdman will also need to get used to the characteristics of Southeast Asian players, something not all Western coaches can easily overcome. “Indonesian players have different personalities and ways of working. Even with research through books or the internet, reality is very different. The case of Alex Pastoor is a typical example; he had to travel constantly between the Netherlands and Indonesia because he struggled to integrate,” Toni Ho emphasized.