Spain's Luis Milla Aspas to Coach Indonesia's National Football Team
Jakarta. The Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI, signed up former Spain's U-21 team coach Luis Milla Aspas on Friday, Jan. 20, to coach Indonesia's senior and U-23 teams on a two-year contract.
"It's official, Luis Milla has been signed as Indonesia's national team coach," PSSI wrote on its Twitter account @pssi__fai.
Milla's first assignment will be the SEA Games 2017, to which Indonesia will send its U-23 team.
"We want to be number one in the SEA Games and finish in the top four in Asian Games 2018," PSSI secretary general Ade Wellington said.
"We should at least climb up to 130th spot in FIFA's ranking by the end of this year. That's a realistic goal," he added.
Meanwhile, Milla said he had been warmly welcomed by Indonesian supporters since he landed in Jakarta two days ago.
"Part of the reasons I accepted this job was because I could see the Indonesian fans are very enthusiastic, they're simply incredible," Milla said.
"This gives me the motivation to make our teams more competitive in the international stage," he added.
The 50-year-old's highest achievement so far was when he led Spain to win the UEFA U-21 Championship in 2011.
Among the now-famous players he managed in that tournament were Manchester United's Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and David de Gea and Bayern Munchen's Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara.
Milla also led Spain into second place in the UEFA U-19 Championship in 2010.
Bali United's caretaker coach Indra Sjafri meanwhile has been reappointed as the national U-19 team coach.
During his previous stint at the helm in 2013-2014, Indra led the team to victory in the AFF U-19 cup in September 2013, an achievement never reached by any other Indonesian team in 22 years.
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