JAKARTA (Xinhua): Indonesia's new national football team head coach John Herdman said on Tuesday that he is not afraid of the pressure of leading the Garuda squad, calling it a privilege at his first press conference in Jakarta.
"Pressure is a privilege. You come into an organisation, you lead a team, and you also carry this country," Herdman said.
Herdman said pressure can be viewed from different perspectives and can become a "blessing," as support from fans can provide positive momentum.
"Now, it can be a curse, or it can be a blessing. We will optimize it into a blessing for all of us. It will be a huge opportunity if I can carry that forward and pass it on to the players," the British coach said.
"When a country stands still and qualifies for the first time, I enjoy that moment. So I understand it. I will tell the players that pressure is a blessing. We will listen to the fans, we will use their energy," he added.
Indonesia failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in October last year after suffering two defeats to Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers under then head coach Patrick Kluivert.
Kluivert's contract was terminated after a 10-month tenure since his appointment in January, 2025.
For the record, Herdman is an English professional football manager who is widely recognised for his contributions to Canadian soccer. He is the first coach to have led both a women’s and men’s national team from the same country to a FIFA World Cup.
Herdman coached the Canada women’s national team from 2011 to 2018, guiding them to back-to-back Olympic bronze medals (2012, 2016) and a quarter-final finish at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. He then transitioned to the men’s programme, where he led the Canada men's national team to its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 36 years in 2022, and oversaw a significant rise in international competitiveness and ranking.
Herdman is credited with reshaping Canada’s national team culture. He helped elevate the profile of Canadian soccer at home and abroad, laying foundational groundwork ahead of the country’s co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup.
