By The Canadian Press

Former Canada coach John Herdman takes charge of the Indonesia men’s team

Jan 3, 2026 | 1:00 AM

John Herdman, who inherited a Canadian men’s team ranked 94th in the world and took it to the World Cup in 2022, has found a new challenge.

The 50-year-old English coach was appointed coach of the Indonesian men’s national team Saturday on a four-year contract.

Herdman succeeds former Dutch star Patrick Kluivert, who left in mid-October after No. 122 Indonesia fell just short of making the 2026 World Cup, following back-to-back defeats to No. 58 Iraq and No. 60 Saudi Arabia in the fourth round of regional qualifying.

“It was about finding the right project, one that you can feel the passion and intensity of the fans,” said Herdman, who has been without a team since resigning as Toronto FC coach in November 2024.

Herdman said he also saw the same passion and commitment from the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) “who are looking to bring somebody with that (World Cup) qualification habit.”

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“What I’ve seen is the talent pool is there,” he told The Canadian Press from Mexico, where he was vacationing with his family. “It has a very similar feeling to Canada. A big country, a lot of potential with local players but also the ability to recruit dual-nationals which they’ve already started on that journey.”

With a population of more than 280 million, Indonesia ranks fourth in the world behind India, China and the United States. While it is a world power in badminton, football is also popular — Indonesia’s top-tier Super League has 18 clubs.

Indonesia declared independence on Aug. 17, 1945, after almost 350 years of Dutch rule. And today there is still plenty of Dutch talent with ties to Indonesia.

Yet Indonesia has only made it to one World Cup, competing as Dutch East Indies in 1938 in France. Then a 16-team tournament, the competition format was a simple knockout with the Asian side exiting after a 6-0 loss to Hungary in its opening game.

Herdman is scheduled to leave for Indonesia next week ahead of an introductory news conference. He looks forward to spending time there.

“Because I think it’s certainly an important part of learning the culture, being fully immersed in it … You really have to understand the people and the customs to create that connection,” he said.

Indonesia’s highest FIFA ranking was No. 76, achieved in September 1998. Its lowest ranking was No. 191 in July-August 2016. The Indonesia men are currently ranked 23rd in the Asian Football Federation.

The Indonesia association cleaned house in parting ways with Kluivert, also shedding under-23 head coach Gerald Vanenburg, who doubled as an assistant coach on the senior side, and under-20 coach Frank van Kempen.

Kluivert, who played for Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan and Newcastle among other clubs, had only taken charge of Indonesia in January 2025 following the dismissal of South Korean Shin Tae-yong.

Herdman, a native of Consett, England, stepped down as Canada men’s coach in August 2023 to take over Toronto FC. He resigned his post after one full season with the MLS team.

A former Canada women’s and men’s coach, Herdman had been linked to a culture of spying within Canada Soccer.

In May 2025, Herdman received a written admonishment after an independent committee found he had “committed misconduct under the Canada Soccer Disciplinary Code.”

Canada Soccer has not released the committee’s decision so full details of its findings are not available.

“Throughout my career, I have led with integrity, transparency, and a deep respect for the game. That has not changed,” Herdman said in response to the decision.

The drone-spying scandal at the Paris Olympics cost women’s coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi their jobs at Canada Soccer. All three were handed serving one-year suspensions from FIFA, with Lombardi having resigned his Canada Soccer position soon after the Olympics.

The Canadian men were ranked 94th when Herdman took over, leaving the Canadian women’s team after leading the squad to two Olympic bronze medals. The men were 43rd when he stepped down, after leading the team to a career-high 33rd ranking (in February 2022) en route to the 2022 World Cup.

The Canada men are currently ranked 27th under coach Jesse Marsch.

Indonesia opened this round of World Cup qualifying with a 12-0 aggregate victory over No. 188 Brunei in the two-legged first round. It then finished runner-up to Iraq in the second-round group stage — at 3-2-1, finishing above No. 107 Vietnam and the 136th-ranked Philippines in Group F — and made it to the fourth round after finishing fourth in the third round at 3-4-3 behind Group C leader Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

No. 18 Japan and No. 26 Australia qualified directly for the World Cup by virtue of their 1-2 finish while Saudi Arabia and Indonesia moved onto the fourth round.

Indonesia’s qualifying run ended in October with losses to Saudi Arabia (3-2) and Iraq (1-0), with both games in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudis booked their ticket to the World Cup, while Iraq moved into a FIFA playoff.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press