Patrick Kluivert has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Indonesia following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both parties reportedly agreed to part ways on mutual terms on Thursday.

Indonesia’s World Cup hopes ended after consecutive defeats to Iraq and Saudi Arabia dashed their qualification chances.

Kluivert, 49, who was appointed in January, managed just eight matches during his short tenure, winning three, drawing one, and losing four.

In a post on Instagram, the former Netherlands and Barcelona striker described his time with Indonesia as “an unforgettable journey,” expressing disappointment over the failed qualification but gratitude for the experience.

“Even though I’m deeply disappointed and sorry for the fact that we didn’t make it to the World Cup, I’ll always be proud of what we built together,” Kluivert wrote.

The Dutchman replaced former coach Shin Tae-yong, whose dismissal sparked controversy earlier in the year. He signed a two-year contract with the goal of leading Indonesia to their first-ever World Cup appearance since independence in 1945.

In a statement, the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) confirmed that Kluivert’s exit was “through mutual termination,” describing it as part of a broader review of the national football development programme.

The association did not immediately announce who would take over as the next head coach.

Kluivert, who retired as a player in 2008 after a successful career with Ajax, AC Milan, and Barcelona, has had a mixed record in management. Before his stint in Indonesia, he coached Turkish side Adana Demirspor for five months in 2023 and served briefly as caretaker manager of Curacao in 2021. He was also an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national team between 2012 and 2014.