Holiday Ayo - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) officially ended its partnership with Dutch coach Patrick Kluivert on Thursday (October 16th).

In its official statement, PSSI explained that the contract termination was carried out earlier than the original two-year agreement.

The decision was made through a mutual termination mechanism, or mutual agreement between both parties.

With the end of this partnership, the Indonesian national team coaching position is once again vacant.

However, Indonesia is not the only country in the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region without a head coach.

So, which ASEAN countries currently have vacant coaching positions?

ASEAN Countries Currently Without Coaches: By October 2025, at least three countries in the ASEAN region are in a coaching transition period.

All three are currently focusing on the selection process for new coaches to rebuild the performance of their respective national teams.

1. Singapore

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) officially announced the departure of Japanese coach Tsutomu Ogura in June 2025. According to Bolasport, Ogura decided to step down due to personal reasons.

The FAS attempted to persuade the coach to stay on, given that his contract still had two years remaining. However, Ogura remained steadfast in his decision.

“Since then, the FAS Executive Committee has been in close discussions with Ogura to explore various avenues for him to continue his duties,” read an official FAS statement.

“However, despite our concerted efforts and desire to continue working together, the nature of the personal issues made it impossible for him to continue in office,” the statement continued.

Since Ogura's departure, the Singapore national team has been led by Gavin Lee, who has acted as interim coach.

2. Indonesia

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) officially ended its collaboration with Patrick Kluivert and the entire Dutch coaching team on October 16, 2025.

This move follows the Garuda squad's failure to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

"PSSI and the Indonesian National Team Coaching Team officially agreed to terminate the collaboration early through a mutual termination mechanism. This agreement was signed by both parties, who were previously bound by a two-year contract," read the PSSI statement.

"The termination of the collaboration was carried out by mutual agreement, taking into account internal dynamics and the strategic direction of the national team's future development," it added.

Currently, the position of head coach of the Indonesian national team remains vacant, and PSSI is conducting a search to determine a suitable replacement.

3. Thailand

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) also recently ended its collaboration with Japanese coach Masatada Ishii.

Kluivert Sacked, Who Will Be the Next Indonesian National Team Coach?

The news was announced directly on the FAT's official Facebook account. In a statement, the FAT explained that the decision was made due to differences in vision and technical approach between the two parties.

"The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has parted ways with Masatada Ishii following differences in the approach of his technical team," the FAT wrote in its statement.

In addition to differences in vision, unsatisfactory results were also a major factor. Since taking charge of the Thai national team in December 2023, Ishii recorded 16 wins out of 30 matches, a win percentage of approximately 53 percent.

"The FAT Technical Executive Committee, led by Dr. Chanwit Pholchiwin, Piyapong Pue-on, and Ekapol Pholnawi, reviewed and evaluated the team's performance before ultimately deciding to terminate the partnership with Masatada Ishii," the FAT explained.

With the end of Ishii's tenure, the Thai national team is now without a permanent head coach.