John Herdman Unveils Vision for Indonesia National Team

January 13, 2026 | 04:11 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The newly appointed head coach of the Indonesian national football team, John Herdman, asserted he has a clear philosophy for building a team capable of competing globally, rather than simply importing players from Europe.

"I think if you see in my journey in Canada with the main team, I have a very clear philosophy to compete on the world stage, you need tier one and tier two players, playing in the top five leagues in the world," Herdman said after his introduction at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 13, 2025.

The English coach believes a national team requires players who understand high intensity and modern tactics. However, he emphasizes that selection depends on quality and track record over league origin. "I will always recruit players whose careers are telling the best story, and your football career doesn't lie. If you are a top player, you play at the top levels in Indonesia," he said.

Herdman views Indonesia as a nation with a great appeal for representative football. He believes local players possess the commitment and passion necessary for international development. "We will hopefully, in the next few years, find players that we can export to Europe, to those top leagues, or internationally. So I will constantly work to find the best players to play for the Indonesian [team]."

The 50-year-old former Canadian coach stresses that identifying domestic talent is straightforward. He believes Indonesian players have the potential to compete in Europe. "It's not hard to see where your top players are. You are looking to bring the best players to this country," Herdman said when asked about recruiting players from England or Europe.

Regarding players of Indonesian descent, Herdman sees a significant opportunity. He noted few countries offer the chance to play with such intense public support. "In football, there are lots of opportunities for players, but I think when players feel and see this passion: this opportunity to be the first group of men to qualify a country to a World Cup," he stated.

He cited Stephen Eustaquio, who left the Portuguese system to represent Canada, as a model for Indonesia. "There aren't many countries in the world that can offer that to top players," he said.

Herdman arrived in Jakarta on Saturday following a rigorous selection process. Reports indicate he competed with Giovanni van Bronckhorst for the role before PSSI finalized his appointment. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is now assembling a coaching staff to assist him, including Cesar Meylan, a physical coach with a doctorate from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand.

Read: John Herdman on Indonesia's World Cup Ambition: "Pressure Is a Privilege"

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