Shin Tae-yong Reflects on Differences Between Coaching Persija and the Indonesian National Team
Persija Jakarta head coach Shin Tae-yong has highlighted the fundamental differences he experiences while managing a football club compared to leading the Indonesian National Team.
As widely known, the South Korean strategist was appointed to guide the Macan Kemayoran squad for the BRI Super League 2026/2027 season. Under his leadership, Persija enjoyed a flawless start, sweeping all four opening matches with convincing victories.
Persija’s impressive form under Shin Tae-yong came as a pleasant surprise to many, especially considering that the coach previously required a significant amount of time to instill his tactical vision when taking charge of the national team.
Shin Tae-yong noted that managing a club and a national team demands completely different approaches, with time spent together as a squad being the primary distinction.
“Coaching a club is fundamentally different from managing a national team, so there are distinct elements and methods involved in building the squad,” Shin Tae-yong explained.
“With the national team, we have to play two matches in a nine-day window, so the focus is strictly on condition management and recovery. Meanwhile, in a league setting, players prepare step-by-step while continuously addressing and resolving tactical issues week by week.”
Initial doubts had accompanied Shin Tae-yong’s arrival at Persija, largely stemming from a difficult spell during his previous stint with Ulsan HD.
However, the former South Korea national team manager has quickly answered his critics, transforming Persija into a disciplined side hungry for victory in every match.
