Calvin Verdonk Shares Experience with Shin Tae-yong and His Journey to Indonesian Citizenship

Indonesian national team defender Calvin Verdonk shared his special experience with former head coach Shin Tae-yong in a recent interview with Dutch media.

The 27-year-old, whose father is of Acehnese descent, spoke about his journey to becoming an Indonesian citizen and eventually joining the Garuda squad.

Shin Tae-yong, who parted ways with the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) about three months ago, had a significant impact on the national team, especially by bringing in several naturalized players, including Verdonk.

The South Korean coach’s recruitment strategy — particularly targeting players of Indonesian descent — opened new doors for diaspora talents like Verdonk to represent the Merah Putih.