Jordi Cruyff has found a new challenge in his career in Indonesia . The former Barcelona sporting director has been announced as the new technical advisor of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) , where he will work alongside Patrick Kluivert , the national coach of the Asian country for a few weeks now, from January of this year.
The signing of the Dutchman is part of an ambitious project to promote football in the Asian country, with the main objective of achieving Indonesia 's historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup . Cruyff 's signing responds to the need to modernize and strengthen the football structure in Indonesia .
The role of the former Barça player will be key in the creation of training methodologies , the development of grassroots football and the implementation of a strategy that allows the team to compete internationally with guarantees.
In his presentation, Cruyff expressed his enthusiasm for this new challenge: “I am very excited. I am looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge to contribute to the advancement of football in Indonesia. The talent is here , and with the right structure and support, we can reach new heights on the international stage.”
In addition to his responsibilities at the Federation, Jordi Cruyff will have a key role in the selection of Indonesia 's new sporting director , who will work closely with him and Kluivert to improve the performance of the national team.
Cruyff ’s appointment was driven by Patrick Kluivert , who stressed the importance of adding the Dutchman to the project: “Having someone of his calibre in our team is a great boost for the Federation. I look forward to collaborating with him to develop a stronger Indonesian football and push our players to the next level.”
For his part, Erick Thohir , President of the Federation , welcomed Cruyff ’s arrival , highlighting his experience in sports management and his potential to transform football in Indonesia : “It is an honour to welcome Jordi Cruyff to our Federation. Patrick and he know each other very well, and when he recommended his name to me, I knew it was the right choice . His vast experience as a player and coach will be instrumental in fostering a new generation of players in Indonesia.”
Jordi Cruyff , 51, has built a diverse career in international football, both on the pitch and in the offices. He has worked in different roles in countries such as Malta, Cyprus, Israel, China and Ecuador , in addition to his recent stint at Barcelona , where he served as technical secretary and sporting director between 2021 and 2023 alongside Mateu Alemany .
Indonesian football is looking to make a leap forward in quality, and Jordi Cruyff 's experience in international football is seen as a key factor in achieving that goal. Indonesia currently sits third in its qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup , one point behind Australia in the race for second place, which grants automatic qualification.
If they fail to qualify directly , they could still qualify for the World Cup through later rounds and the traditional play-offs. Indonesia 's only participation in a World Cup dates back to 1938, when, under the name of the Dutch East Indies, they fell in the first round to Hungary…
