Shin Tae-Yong (STY) has officially ended his role as head coach of the Indonesian national football team after the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) decided to terminate his contract. The announcement was made by PSSI chairman Erick Thohir during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, January 6.
The South Korean coach took charge of the Garuda squad on January 8, 2020, overseeing not only the senior team but also the U-19, U-20 and U-23 squads.
During his tenure, Shin Tae-Yong made history as the longest-serving coach of the Indonesian national team, at least in the post-reform era. This record was previously held by Antun Pogacnik, who led the team for a decade from 1954 to 1964 during Indonesia's Old Order era.
Compared to other Indonesian national team coaches in the past 10 years, Shin Tae-Yong's tenure stands out as the longest, far surpassing his predecessors. Here is a comparison:
- Shin Tae-Yong (December 2019 - January 2024): 5 years and 1 month
- Simon McMenemy (December 2018 - November 2019): 11 months
- Luis Milla (January 2017 - August 2018): 1 year and 7 months
- Alfred Riedl (September 2016 - December 2016): 3 months
- Pieter Huistra (May 2015 - June 2015): 1 month
- Benny Dollo (March 2015 - May 2015): 2 months
- Alfred Riedl (December 2013 - December 2014): 1 year
Shin Tae-Yong's extensive contributions have left a lasting legacy and cemented his place as a key figure in the history of Indonesian football.
The Architect of Success
Under the leadership of Shin Tae-Yong, the Indonesian National Football Team achieved remarkable milestones that strengthened its position on the international stage. During his tenure, STY secured 26 victories out of 57 matches, resulting in a win rate of 46%. However, these figures represent only a fraction of his contribution to rebuilding the glory of Indonesian football.
One of his greatest accomplishments was the significant improvement in the FIFA ranking of the Indonesian National Team. When he took charge in December 2019, the team was ranked 173rd in the world.
Under his leadership, Indonesia's FIFA ranking has soared to 127th. Previously, the team’s best ranking was achieved in September 1998, when they were ranked 76th.
Shin Tae-Yong also led the Indonesian National Team to further success in various international tournaments. For the first time in history, Indonesia advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, after an 18-year absence from the competition.
This achievement was followed by other historic milestones, such as qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, finishing fourth in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup (a tournament they had never before participated in), and winning the bronze medal at the 2021 SEA Games.
Additionally, STY led Indonesia to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the first time, making them the most successful Southeast Asian nation in this stage. Indonesia finished second in Group F with 10 points, surpassing regional rivals like Thailand and Vietnam, who were considered favorites.
These remarkable accomplishments highlight Shin Tae-Yong's ability to manage teams across various age groups, from U-20 to U-23, and senior levels. Not only did he deliver results, but he also brought new pride to Indonesian football by setting records that had never been achieved before.
