Jakarta – PSSI officially introduced John Herdman as the new head coach of the Indonesian National Team on Tuesday (January 13, 2026). During the introductory session in Jakarta, the coach who previously managed the Canadian national team outlined his grand strategy to elevate the achievements of the Garuda Squad on the global stage.
A New Era Begins in March
John Herdman marked March 2026 as a pivotal turning point. He is currently finalizing plans for a training camp that will initiate his transformation efforts. "March is a crucial momentum. My goal is to deliver a new experience and atmosphere that can be directly felt by players and supporters of Indonesia," he stated.
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Pursuing World-Class Players
Drawing from his experience in qualifying Canada for the 2022 World Cup, Herdman emphasized the importance of individual quality. For him, players competing in top global leagues (Tier 1 and Tier 2) are key to confronting the intensity of international Football.
Currently, he is monitoring potential talents in Europe, including England. However, Herdman's approach transcends technical aspects, focusing on emotional connections. He leverages history as the primary magnet to recruit heritage players. "Being the first generation to take Indonesia to the World Cup and celebrating it with 280 million people is a unique proposition unavailable elsewhere," Herdman explained.
Hope for Local Talent
Despite aggressively scouting overseas players, Herdman guarantees the National Team remains wide open for Liga 1 players. He plans to personally attend domestic matches to uncover hidden gems, like those at Borneo FC. He stressed that the National Team Coach must monitor the local league to sustain young players’ aspirations. "Local players are our future," he added.
Building Legacy Through Local Staff
Herdman’s vision extends beyond scoresheets. He aims to establish a systematic legacy by involving local experts in Football analysis and sport science. Through this collaboration, he hopes to transfer knowledge to Indonesian Football practitioners. "The true legacy is empowering as many locals as possible to gain top-level experience," he concluded.
As concrete steps, Herdman will hold virtual meetings with core players within the next two weeks. Subsequently, he is scheduled to fly to Europe in late January to personally assess overseas players’ conditions at their respective clubs.
