Former coach Shin Tae-yong, who became a civilian after leading the Indonesian national football team, made a thorough visit to AS.
On the 16th, Coach Shin visited the PAT Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. He watched the match between Thai League's Port FC and Bangkok United. The reason he watched the game between Port and Bangkok is that players from the Indonesian national team he once coached were performing in it.
After the match, Coach Shin met separately with Asnawi Mangkualam (Port) and Pratama Arhan (Bangkok) to spend some warm time together.
Asnawi and Arhan are representative players who grew under Coach Shin's system. They are responsible for the flanks of the Indonesian national team and made impressive performances in international competitions. However, recently the fortunes of the two players diverged in the national team roster. Arhan was included in the national team, but Asnawi was excluded.
First, Coach Shin warmly embraced Arhan and encouraged him, saying, "Do well!"
For Asnawi, he gave an impromptu lesson. Coach Shin provided detailed feedback, stating, "Watching the game, I noticed some bad habits emerged again," while conducting a personal lecture.
Not only did he visit to meet the players, but Coach Shin also watched the game until the end, offering warm advice and thorough guidance to his disciples. This occasion highlighted Coach Shin's "Papa leadership" toward Indonesian football in Thailand.
Asnawi nodded in response to Coach Shin's candid critique.
The serious conversation between Coach Shin and Asnawi continued for a while. It was a moment that showed Coach Shin's continuous attention to the players' development even after leaving the Indonesian national team.
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) suddenly decided to dismiss Coach Shin Tae-yong last January. At that time, the Indonesian Football Association noted, "This decision has been made after long and careful consideration and evaluation regarding the national team's performance and the long-term goals the team aims to achieve. PSSI appreciates everyone who contributed to the development of the Indonesian national football team and wishes Coach Shin Tae-yong the best in his future endeavors."
This decision must have been surprising for Coach Shin. He began his life in Indonesia in 2020 when he took on the role of coach for Indonesia. He was highly regarded as a coach who would lead the overall growth of the Indonesian national team, including overseeing age-specific teams.
From the start, Coach Shin's Indonesia displayed a different appearance than before. They finished as the runners-up in the 2020 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup and ranked 4th in the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Cup.
In particular, Coach Shin maintained a philosophy of balancing pure Indonesian players and naturalized players while leading the Indonesian national team. However, recently the Indonesian national team is shifting toward a direction mainly led by naturalized players of Dutch descent. The latest national team roster also included a significant number of naturalized players, narrowing the position of existing pure players.
Currently, the atmosphere of the Indonesian national team is completely different. They are demonstrating a determination to achieve immediate results by actively recruiting naturalized players.
Although he left the team suddenly, Coach Shin continually showed his love for his disciples.
Coach Shin has already cared for not just the tactical aspects but also the mental aspects, like a father figure during his time with the Indonesian national team.
In particular, during the national team gathering periods, he thoroughly managed players' lifestyles and attitudes both on and off the field, emphasizing their qualities as professional players. For Indonesian players, Coach Shin was not just a coach but a figure like a "mentor for their football life."
The impact Coach Shin left on Indonesian football went beyond mere performance. He dedicated himself to elevate Indonesian football to a higher level. His meeting with Arhan and Asnawi that day was also a reaffirmation of his ongoing affection for Indonesian football.
[Photo] Provided by EG Sports.
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