Profile of Cesar Meylan, the World-Class Sports Scientist Behind Indonesian National Team's Ambition

PSSI has officially appointed Cesar Meylan, PhD, CPSS, CSCS, as the physical performance coach of the Indonesian National Team. The presence of this experienced figure marks a crucial part of efforts to strengthen the fitness and performance foundation of the Garuda Squad under head coach John Herdman's guidance.

According to PSSI's official statement in Jakarta on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Meylan's appointment also signifies his professional reunion with John Herdman. The two have collaborated for over a decade at international football levels, including during the resurgence of the Canadian national team.

Meylan's inclusion demonstrates PSSI's strategic move in establishing a modern sports science-based physical training system. He will hold a central role as the primary designer for the fitness, strength, and endurance of Indonesian National Team Players, employing an approach that integrates performance data, scientific methodologies, and medical coordination.

Cesar Meylan is widely recognized as an Olympic-standard sports scientist and strength and conditioning coach. He earned his doctorate in Strength and Conditioning from Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand. His expertise spans training load management, injury prevention, recovery strategies, and long-term athlete performance optimization.

Meylan's global reputation strengthened after being named Canada Sport Scientist of the Year 2021. This award honors individuals who make significant contributions to developing elite Canadian athletic performance.

Before joining Indonesian National Team, Meylan served as Director of Performance at Toronto FC. He also held strategic roles at Canada Soccer, including Director, Health & Athletic Performance and Head of Athletic Performance. In these positions, he directly managed athletes from professional leagues to elite competitions like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.

The Meylan-Herdman collaboration previously yielded prestigious achievements, including a Gold Medal at Tokyo 2021 Olympics with Canada's women's team, two Olympic bronze medals, and successfully qualifying Canada's men's team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a prolonged absence.

In John Herdman's coaching philosophy, Meylan's role is vital to aligning tactical identity with players' physical readiness. This approach ensures maximum execution of strategies at peak intensity levels. Meylan is also renowned for creating elite-standard work environments emphasizing discipline, inclusivity, and sustainable performance enhancement.

With this track record, PSSI anticipates Meylan's presence will significantly transform the physical capabilities of the Indonesian national team while elevating Garuda's professionalism and international competitiveness.

Cesar Meylan's Career

• Women's Football National Team of New Zealand (2010–2011)
• Canadian Women's Football National Team – Head of Physical Performance (2011–2018)
• Canadian Men's Football National Team (2018–2023)
• Toronto FC – Performance Director (2023–2025)
• Adjunct Professor at University of British Columbia

Individual Awards

• Canada Sport Scientist of the Year 2021

Team Achievements

• Rio 2016 Olympic Gold Medal (Women's Team)
• Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold Medal
• Three FIFA Women's World Cup appearances
• 2022 Canadian Men's National Team World Cup Qualifiers Champions