Shin Tae-yong Denies Return to Indonesia After Ulsan HD's Dismissal

October 14, 2025 | 03:08 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong has denied rumors of his return to coach the Indonesian national team. "Those rumors are absolutely false," said Shin, quoted from KBS News, a South Korean news agency.

Shin's name has resurfaced after the Garuda squad failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Indonesia was eliminated in the fourth round Asian qualifiers, after suffering two consecutive defeats. The Garuda squad, under Patrick Kluivert's wings, lost to Saudi Arabia 2-3 and Iraq 0-1.

These results have sparked criticism against Kluivert, who is deemed to have failed in managing the composition of diaspora and domestic players into a cohesive team. The hashtag #KluivertOut is widely echoed by fans on social media.

Some football fans in the country are urging the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to bring back Shin Tae-yong, considering his impressive track record during his time with Indonesia. Shin's guidance led Indonesia to successfully holding Australia to a draw and even secured a victory once and a draw against Saudi Arabia. Kluivert has yet to be able to replicate these results. 

But Shin has dismissed the rumors of his return outright.

Breaks Silence on Ulsan HD's Dismissal

He also mentioned his recent situation with Ulsan HD, a K League club that recently fired him. He refuted allegations that his tactics did not fit with the South Korean football culture.

"I believe my failure is because I did not truly understand the club's internal situation," he said. "But I completely disagree, not even one percent, with the assumption that my tactics are not suitable for the K League."

The 55-year-old coach also addressed his experience coaching the Indonesian national team, which he stated is often underestimated. "People belittle what I achieved there, but we beat Saudi Arabia and drew with Australia with a team ranked 127th in the world. That's not luck," he stated.

Shin Tae-yong ended on an optimistic note. "If the club had given me real support, Ulsan would have finished in the top six," said the coach who previously led South Korea to the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup.

Editor’s Choice: South Korea's Ulsan HD Fires Shin Tae-yong After String of Poor Performances

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