Revealing the clause that allows the World Cup coach to remain in Indonesia for 4 years

PSSI revealed that the agreement with coach John Herdman contains an automatic extension provision, allowing the British coach to stay with Indonesia through 2030 upon meeting performance goals.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is preparing to close out 2025 with a landmark decision: appointing John Herdman, former coach of Canada’s national team, as head coach of Indonesia’s national team, while also taking on the responsibility of coaching the U23 team.

According to sources from Bola.com,Herdman has reached a preliminary agreement with PSSI on a 2-year contract, with an option to extend for another 2 years, extending through 2029. The English coach’s salary is as high as 40,000 USD per month, ranking him among the highest-paid coaches in Indonesian football history.

Herdman’s objectives are very clear and challenging: to lead Indonesia to win the 2026 AFF Cup and reach the quarterfinals of the 2027 Asian Cup—achievements Indonesian football has yet to accomplish. If these targets are met, the automatic contract extension clause for two more years will be activated.

PSSI’s decision to select Herdman is viewed as a strategic move. Previously, the English coach led Canada’s national team at the 2022 World Cup and played a major role in elevating Canadian football on the international stage.

A PSSI executive committee member revealed that assigning Herdman to both the senior and U23 teams aims to ensure consistency in philosophy, personnel, and playing style throughout. He will also bring his own assistant staff, alongside local coaches appointed by PSSI to foster cohesion and future continuity.

John Herdman’s appointment is injecting fresh energy into Indonesian football after a turbulent 2025, when the senior team missed out on World Cup qualification and the U23 team failed to advance in Asian qualifiers. The arrival of a World Cup-experienced coach is expected to usher in a more professional and systematic era for Indonesian football.

With a “big” contract and ambitious goals, John Herdman is not just the head coach; he symbolizes the effort to revitalize Indonesian football, where the aspiration to expand on the continental stage has never faded.