Mauricio Souza tasked to lead Persija Jakarta to league title

Mauricio Souza — the newly appointed Brazilian coach of Persija Jakarta — faces the challenging task of leading Macan Kemayoran to victory in Liga 1 2025/2026.

The former Madura United manager will handle a squad dominated by young players, with several senior players remaining:

• Rizky Ridho
• Ilham Rio Fahmi
• Witan Sulaeman
• Gustavo Almeida
• Ryo Matsumura

In preparation for the new season, Souza will bring in five new foreign players plus several local recruits to strengthen the capital city team — a significant challenge given the championship target set by club management.