Alex Pastoor Breaks Silence on Patrick Kluivert's Dismissal from Indonesia National Team

October 22, 2025 | 01:26 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dutch coach Alex Pastoor has finally broken his silence regarding the dismissal of Patrick Kluivert and the team from the Indonesian national team following the Garuda squad's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Pastoor served as an assistant to Kluivert, who was newly appointed as the head coach in early 2025.

Indonesia’s dream of participating in the 2026 World Cup vanished after two consecutive defeats against Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Subsequently, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) decided to terminate its collaboration with Kluivert and his entire coaching staff. "Yes, it didn't work out, and that became clear immediately," Pastoor said when speaking at Rondo, as reported by vi.nl.

Regarding the losses, he explained: "Actually, both on the field and in the locker room, we tried to explain to the players what was expected of them. I think we did that to the best of our ability. But that wasn't enough to defeat countries at this level."

Pastoor offered a thin smile when asked if he was surprised by the dismissal. "You've been involved in the world of football for too long to be surprised by this," he said. "However, I think they (PSSI) are working on a project that will have a longer run than just chasing a World Cup ticket. If the sentiment turns very negative, you can also imagine what kind of atmosphere you will face. We didn't know that."

After the team returned from Jeddah, PSSI promptly evaluated the national team's performance and the coaching staff. The result was immediate, with PSSI deciding to terminate the collaboration through mutual agreement.

Three Agreements Between the Coach and PSSI

According to Pastoor, three initial agreements formed the basis of the work plan between the Dutch coaching team and PSSI. First, qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

"Qualifying for the World Cup is indeed great, but as the 119th-ranked team in the world, it's not easy or realistic," he noted.

Second, develop youth players. Gerald Vanenburg and Frank van Kempen were tasked with quickly developing and recruiting local players for the U-23 and U-20 national teams. Third, long-term player acquisition. In the long run, the goal was to acquire more competitive players in a country with a population of 280 million.

"Jordi Cruyff has been appointed as an advisor, and Alexander Zwiers as a technical director. Now everyone has been dismissed," he pointed out.

Nevertheless, Pastoor stated that Indonesia left a deep impression on his coaching career. "There was so much enthusiasm there about football, including at the beginning of our presence, so practically you had to ensure this would be successful. But it was never discussed," said the former Almere City coach.

Pastoor remains open to the possibility of collaborating with Patrick Kluivert in the future. "I spoke with Patrick's agent this afternoon. They are definitely considering a few things. There is always the possibility that we will continue to work together," he shared.

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