Alen Stajcic Named New Indonesia Women’s National Football Team Coach

Indonesia have appointed Australian coach Alen Stajcic as the new head coach of their women’s national football team, handing him a three-year contract with the ambitious objective of qualifying for the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 53-year-old replaces Japanese coach Satoru Mochizuki and arrives with considerable international experience, having previously guided Australia and the Philippines through major Women’s Football tournaments. His appointment reflects the Indonesian Football Association’s (PSSI) plans to strengthen the national team, improve youth development and establish a more competitive professional structure for women’s football.

Stajcic’s immediate challenge will be to build a competitive side capable of progressing through Asian qualification competitions. The longer-term ambition is to transform Indonesia into a stronger force in international women’s football and eventually secure a historic World Cup appearance.

Alen Stajcic Brings World Cup Experience to Indonesia

Stajcic has an impressive coaching background in international women’s football. During his time in charge of Australia, he guided the Matildas to the quarterfinals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also led the Australian team to two AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals.

His achievements with the Philippines further strengthened his reputation. Under his leadership, the Filipinas qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, marking a historic milestone for the country’s women’s national team.

The Philippines made headlines during the tournament by defeating co-hosts New Zealand 1-0, securing a memorable result on the global stage. Stajcic also guided the team to the semifinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and their first AFF Women’s Championship title in 2022.

These achievements make him an experienced appointment for Indonesia as the country looks to improve its position in Asian women’s football.

Stajcic Targets Major Transformation of Indonesian Women’s Football

Speaking at his unveiling ceremony in Jakarta, Stajcic expressed his ambition to help Indonesia become one of the strongest teams in international football. He acknowledged the responsibility that comes with the appointment and outlined the shared objective of developing the national team.

“I hope we can make Indonesia one of the strongest teams in the world,” Stajcic said at his unveiling in Jakarta.

He also highlighted the importance of a united approach throughout Indonesian football, from the national leadership to the development structure supporting the players.

“All elements, from the top to the bottom, share the same goal: To transform Indonesia, which has been underrated in world football for the past 10-15 years, into a major force.”

His comments underline the scale of the project ahead. Developing a competitive national team will require more than short-term results, with youth development, player opportunities and professional competition forming important parts of the broader objective.

PSSI Explains Why It Appointed Alen Stajcic

PSSI president Erick Thohir said Stajcic’s experience coaching against teams from Southeast Asia played an important role in the federation’s decision. According to Thohir, Indonesia had pursued the Australian coach for several months before finalising the appointment.

The federation wants the women’s national team to make progress towards qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Thohir also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing coach Satoru Mochizuki while stressing that further improvements were necessary.

“We want the national team to advance to the World Cup,” Thohir said. “We thank coach ‘Mochi’, but improvements are still needed.

The appointment signals PSSI’s intention to invest in the national team’s development under an experienced international coach. Stajcic’s previous success with Australia and the Philippines gives him experience of building teams capable of competing at major tournaments.

Indonesia’s Immediate Target: 2029 Women’s Asian Cup Qualification

Although qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup is the long-term ambition, Stajcic’s immediate objective is to guide Indonesia’s Garuda Pertiwi towards qualification for the 2029 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The competition will provide an important opportunity for Indonesia to measure its progress against stronger teams across the continent. Improving performances and building consistency will be essential as the new coach begins his work.

Stajcic is scheduled to take charge of Indonesia for the first time in international friendlies against Bhutan and Lebanon. The matches will take place on November 29 and December 5, respectively, in Kudus, Central Java.

These fixtures will give the new coach an early opportunity to assess his squad, understand the team’s strengths and identify areas requiring improvement.

Stajcic Calls Indonesia Job a Huge Responsibility

Stajcic described his appointment as both an honour and a major responsibility. He made clear that his focus would extend beyond immediate results, with the broader aim of helping Indonesian women’s football develop into a stronger team in the coming years.

“Coaching Indonesia is a huge responsibility and an honor for me,” Stajcic said.

“I want to help Indonesian women’s football develop into a strong team in the future.”

The new coach will now begin the process of shaping Indonesia’s national team and preparing for upcoming international commitments. His experience with Australia and the Philippines offers a foundation for the project, but delivering progress will depend on how effectively the federation and coaching staff work together.

What Alen Stajcic’s Appointment Means for Indonesia

Indonesia’s decision to appoint Stajcic represents an important step in its ambitions for women’s football. His previous World Cup experience and achievements in Southeast Asia make him a significant addition to the national team’s coaching structure.

The immediate focus will be on the 2029 Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign, while the ultimate goal remains securing Indonesia’s maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance.

With a three-year contract and a clear development objective, Stajcic has an opportunity to build a stronger foundation for the national side. His first tests against Bhutan and Lebanon will mark the beginning of a new chapter for Garuda Pertiwi.