Gerald Vanenburg Steps Down as Indonesia U-23 Coach for SEA Games 2025

Gerald Vanenburg, the head coach of Indonesia’s U-23 national football team, confirmed that he will not be leading the team at the upcoming SEA Games 2025. Instead, his primary focus will be on guiding the squad through the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification tournament. The decision to step aside for the SEA Games was communicated to him in advance, and he accepted it with understanding, remaining committed to supporting the team’s efforts in all competitions.
Indonesia’s U-23 team is set to compete in Group J of the Asian Cup qualifiers alongside strong opponents like South Korea, Laos, and Macau. The group matches will take place in Indonesia from September 1 to 9, 2025. Despite not being directly involved in the SEA Games campaign, Vanenburg emphasized his continued dedication to the development and success of the younger generation of Indonesian players across multiple tournaments.
The SEA Games 2025 will be hosted by Thailand from December 9 to 20, and Indonesia enters the tournament as the defending gold medalists after their triumph in 2023. While Vanenburg won’t be at the helm this time, the previous success underscores the team’s potential and ambition in the regional event. Vanenburg’s decision marks a strategic shift to concentrate fully on the Asian qualifiers, which carry significant importance for Indonesia’s future on the continental stage.
Although recently losing the AFF U-23 final to Vietnam, Vanenburg remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. His commitment to preparing the squad thoroughly aims at achieving the best possible results and securing a place in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals. This approach reflects his long-term vision of elevating Indonesia’s U-23 football to compete strongly at the Asian level.
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