Discussions
"Indonesian players wanted Shin Tae-yong"... Shin re-signs with Korean restaurant
Shin Tae-yong faces his country just after re-signing.
Indonesian Football Federation president Erik Tohir posted a photo on his social media account on Friday shaking hands with Shin Tae-yong. "We discussed the national team program until 2027 and decided to continue working together," he said.
The president of the association announced the extension of Shin's contract first, which Indonesian soccer fans had been hoping for. He was also seen enjoying a meal at a Korean restaurant to show his appreciation for Shin.
Tae-yong Shin's accolades in Indonesia are considerable. Shin has been a success story since his arrival in Indonesia. Since 2020, Shin has been in charge of Indonesia's national A and U-23 teams, and he's taken them to a level of dominance in Southeast Asia.
This year, he's taken them to the point where they're on par with the rest of the Asian giants. The national team stunned at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Qatar earlier this year. Shin Tae-yong, who led the Indonesia A team to their first Asian Cup appearance in 17 years, led them to the round of 16 for the first time ever. Although the challenge came to an end in the round of 16, he led Indonesia into the top 16 of the Asian Cup.
Now, he's working miracles with the U-23 team. At the U-23 Asian Cup, which is currently being held in Qatar and doubles as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he led Indonesia to the tournament. The tournament pits the future talents of each country against each other, and with Indonesia's infrastructure, it's hard to keep finding good resources, but Shin took the team to the quarterfinals after qualifying for the first time.
The renewal agreement came naturally. The Indonesian Football Federation had initially set a condition for the renewal of the contract. Last month, Indonesia's TV1 News reported, "Despite Shin's Asian Cup success, chairman Tohir said he would only extend his contract with Shin if the U-23 Asian Cup reached the quarterfinals or higher." Indonesian fans rose up and criticized Tohir's remarks, which seemed to ignore the team's achievements.
Shin Tae-yong listened to Indonesia's demands. Indonesian public opinion exploded with calls for Shin to re-sign, as the coach worked his magic again. "Shin has fulfilled his obligations," said Bola. It's time for the Indonesian Football Association to honor its promise." "Shin's contract expires in two months. The performance so far is no reason not to renew his contract. Many soccer fans are also hoping for a contract extension."
Finally, Shin and Tohir agreed to stay together until 2027 in a Korean-style meeting. Not only public opinion, but also the national team players strongly requested it. Indonesian media outlet Tempo reported, "After the 4-1 win over Jordan at the U-23 Asian Cup, Tohir visited the locker room to encourage the players. He asked the players where Shin Tae-yong was going to stay, and the players replied, 'Shin should stay,'" said a behind-the-scenes report.
Shin Tae-yong's confidence has been boosted by his re-signing, but he faces a tricky opponent. On June 26 at 2:30 a.m., South Korea will play the quarterfinals of the U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The top three nations in the tournament qualify directly to the Olympics, while the fourth-place finisher faces an intercontinental playoff with Africa's fourth-ranked Guinea, meaning a trip to Paris is out of the question if they fall in the quarterfinals.
After the quarterfinal draw was finalized, Shin Tae-yong said, "It's honestly hard because this is my first experience like this. I always sing the national anthem when I go to competitions and do my best, but it's psychologically difficult to play against Korea."
However, the team's trust in the players has strengthened their cohesion. "Korea has good speed, stamina, and physicality," said Shin Tae-yong. It will be difficult, but we will make a detailed plan to break through their defense," he said, vowing to compete in good faith.