December 19, 2025 | 08:15 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has appointed John Herdman as the new coach of the Indonesian national team. This decision followed an Executive Committee (Exco) meeting on Thursday night, December 18, 2025.
Two sources within PSSI told Tempo that all Exco members agreed to hire Herdman. He replaces Dutch coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was previously the top candidate for the job. "The decision is final; everyone agreed to choose John," an Exco member told Tempo on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The sources noted that Sumardji, Head of the PSSI National Team Body, will officially announce the English coach's name to the public. However, PSSI officials have not yet set a date to finalize and sign the contract with Herdman.
"Pak Sumardji has the authority to make the public announcement. [We will provide] confirmation once the contract is signed and all rights and obligations are settled," the source added.
Sumardji confirmed that PSSI held two separate meetings on Wednesday and Thursday nights to choose the coach. While he acknowledged the appointment, he declined to name Herdman directly. "Let the Chair make the announcement. He is currently abroad [in Thailand]," Sumardji said via telephone on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The 50-year-old English coach has a strong track record. He famously led the Canadian men's national team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 36-year wait for the country. Herdman also found great success with the Canadian women's team, winning bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Read: Who Is John Herdman, Indonesia's Top Candidate for National Team Coach?
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