John Herdman Wants to Discover Indonesian Talents Like Alphonso Davies

National Team Head Coach John Herdman does not treat winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup as an end goal. Instead, Herdman wants this trophy to be the starting point for building the Garuda Squad, including discovering young Indonesian players that can develop far enough to compete at the UEFA Champions League level, just like Alphonso Davies.

"I sincerely hope we can find Indonesia's own Alphonso Davies, the next player from this country that will feature in the Champions League," stated John Herdman during a press conference at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, Monday.

The British head coach has solid reasoning for using Davies as the benchmark. During his tenure leading the Canada national team, he worked directly with this player, who is regarded as one of the fastest left defenders in modern football.

Herdman aims to uncover talent of similar calibre from Indonesia. He expects domestic competitions will keep producing young players with the capability to progress all the way to the top tiers of European football.

This goal emerged after Herdman led Indonesia to claim the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title. Garuda defeated Thailand 4-2 via penalty shootout in the final at SUGBK, writing history as the first ever champion of this tournament edition.

Following this success, focus has shifted to the next major agenda: the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Herdman assessed that the FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign provided critical experience for the players to build their character as a unified team.

"They have grown stronger as one unit, especially mentally," he said.

For Herdman, Indonesia's strength is not limited to tactical play. He judges that fighting spirit, camaraderie, determination and the emotional bond between players are the actual vital foundation when a team faces high-stakes matches.

According to him, pre-match game plans will never execute perfectly every time. In high pressure scenarios such as a final, team character becomes the deciding factor when match strategies do not go as planned.

"That is exactly what we are building right here," he added.

Because of this, Herdman is confident that most players from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup winning squad will still hold key roles in Indonesia's upcoming campaigns.

The experience they gained throughout this tournament forms an essential part of Garuda's future foundation.

That said, the door remains open for new players. Herdman confirmed names including Mees Hilgers, Miliano Jonathans and Marselino Ferdinan will be continuously evaluated for possible inclusion in the squad for upcoming tournaments.

Alongside monitoring players already on the national team radar, Herdman will also expand scouting through domestic competitions. He confirmed his coaching staff will keep observing potential talents, with the target of unearthing players capable of developing to the highest levels of European football.

"So we will keep watching, all while hoping that Indonesia's very own Alphonso Davies will emerge," he concluded.