Shin Tae-yong vs Patrick Kluivert: Who Performs Better in Timnas Indonesia?

The Indonesian national football team (Timnas Indonesia) has undergone a dramatic shift in recent years, moving from Shin Tae-yong’s disciplined structure to Patrick Kluivert’s new attacking vision.

Both coaches brought unique philosophies and contrasting results, sparking debate among fans about who has been more effective for the Garuda squad.

1. Shin Tae-yong vs Patrick Kluivert Performance

Shin Tae-yong (2020–2025)

• Under Shin’s leadership, Indonesia rose significantly in FIFA rankings and pursued a strong qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, sitting third in their group and within reach of an automatic spot.
  
• His record between 2023–2024: PPG (points per game) of 1.64 in 2023 and 0.86 in 2024 across competitions (Asian Cup qualifiers, U23 Asian Cup, friendlies).
  
• Historic achievements included defeating Kuwait (first Southeast Asian team to beat a West Asian host in qualifying since 2004) and staging a resounding 7–0 win over Nepal to reach the 2023 AFC Asian Cup after a 16-year absence.
  
• While not winning regional tournaments, he did guide the senior team to the 2020 AFF semifinal and brought the U-23s to an AFF final and the SEA Games.
  

Patrick Kluivert (since Jan 2025)

• Appointed in January 2025 with the aim to guide Indonesia to its first World Cup finals since 1938.
  
• Early results under Kluivert: a promising draw against Australia and a win over Saudi Arabia, positioning Indonesia one point behind automatic qualifying.
  
• However, his tenure also includes heavy defeats—most notably a 6–0 loss to Japan in a World Cup qualifier, Indonesia’s worst against them.
  
• As of March 2025, after a 5–1 loss to Australia, Indonesia dropped to fourth in Group C, highlighting challenges in consistency.
  

2. Shin Tae-yong vs Patrick Kluivert Strengths & Tactical Style

Shin Tae-yong

• Renowned for youth development, Shin reshaped the squad by promoting U-23 players to the senior team, increasing squad energy and long-term prospects.
  
• Achieved historic results, such as rare away wins in West Asia and reaching qualification to continental tournaments after long absences.

Patrick Kluivert

• Brought a possession-based, attacking philosophy, aligned with Dutch football identity, appealing to diaspora players with European experience.
  
• Communicative with European-based players, fostering cohesion and optimism early in his tenure.
  
• His high-profile name and reputation aim to encourage further naturalisation and attract talent to the national setup.

3. Shin Tae-yong vs Patrick Kluivert Weaknesses & Challenges

Shin Tae-yong

• Despite improvements, he failed to secure any regional titles and could not deliver Olympic qualification in the U-23 Asian Cup playoffs.
  
• Communication limitations and a lack of language fluency were noted as factors in his dismissal.

Patrick Kluivert

• Limited coaching experience, especially at the highest levels, drawing contrasts with his storied playing career.
  
• His tenure has seen inconsistent results, including both notable wins and heavy defeats, indicating inconsistency in adaptation and stability.
  (ESPN.com, Reuters)

4. Shin Tae-yong vs Patrick Kluivert Conclusion

• Shin Tae-yong led Indonesia through a developmental journey, earning praise for tactical improvements, youth integration, and competitive results despite the lack of titles.
• Patrick Kluivert represents a bold stylistic shift—aiming for attractive football, better communication with diaspora-laden squad, and ambitious World Cup qualification hopes—but his tenure is still proving to be volatile and transitional.

Conclusion

Shin Tae-yong brought Indonesia defensive resilience and historic tournament progress, while Patrick Kluivert has introduced a more attacking philosophy that excites fans but exposes defensive weaknesses.

Choosing between the two depends on priorities: stability and discipline under Shin or offensive flair under Kluivert.

As Indonesia pushes forward in its World Cup qualification journey, Kluivert’s ability to balance attack with defensive stability will determine whether his tenure can surpass Shin’s historic achievements.