John Herdman Calls Indonesia's FIFA ASEAN Cup Triumph His Greatest Achievement - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia national team head coach John Herdman stated that leading Indonesia to victory in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup stands as the greatest achievement of his football career.

"As of now, [winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup] is my greatest achievement in football because I shared it with a group of players who I know truly understand what this moment means to them," John Herdman said during a press conference at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) in Jakarta on Monday, October 5, 2026.

He noted that since moving to Indonesia and taking charge of the national team in January 2026, he had realized just how much football means to the Indonesian people.

In Indonesia, he said, football is more than just a match. It is not merely about the 90 minutes on the pitch, the wins, the losses, or the three points at stake; football is a way of life.

Consequently, the public pressure on him to lead the team to the FIFA ASEAN Cup trophy was immense.

He explained that during his daily exercise routine—running at SUGBK—he would frequently encounter citizens who shared their hopes for the national team in the tournament.

People would tell him they wanted the Garuda squad to secure three points in every match, defeat Malaysia, and ultimately clinch the championship title.

"I think this is a massive achievement for everyone. It is truly special," he said.

John Herdman then drew a comparison with his achievement while coaching the Canadian national team, where he led the country to make history by qualifying for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

However, he recounted that three weeks after that milestone, his sister passed away. From that point on, a triumph that should have been one of the happiest memories of his journey became tinged with a deeply painful aspect.

"So, it was very difficult for me to celebrate a major achievement because that moment was also overshadowed by that loss," he said. Therefore, he said, leading Indonesia to the FIFA ASEAN Cup title represents a highly valuable moment in his career journey.