Teknowarta – Persija Jakarta’s management is moving swiftly following the decision not to extend Mauricio Souza’s contract. The club, famously known as the Macan Kemayoran, has confirmed that they are already in active communication with several head coaching candidates.
Persija Jakarta officially parted ways with Mauricio Souza on Tuesday (26/5). The management opted against a contract renewal for the Brazilian tactician after the team fell short of the specific performance targets agreed upon at the start of the season.
Currently, the identity of Persija’s next head coach remains a major topic of speculation. The club has yet to formally announce the new captain who will steer the Macan Kemayoran through the upcoming 2026/2027 Super League competition.
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Despite the vacancy, Persija Jakarta Director Mohamad Prapanca revealed that the search is well underway. The club is currently vetting potential successors to ensure they find the right fit to build on the foundation left by Souza.
”As a replacement, we have already established communication with several coaching candidates. In the near future, we will determine the most suitable figure to lead Persija toward the championship in the 2026/2027 season,” Prapanca stated in an official release on Wednesday (27/5).
Souza is not the only one departing the capital city club. Persija Jakarta has also decided to end its collaboration with his entire backroom staff, including assistant coach Italo Bartole Resende, fitness coach Vitor Branco da Cruz, goalkeeper coach Gerson Rodrigues Rios, analyst Caio Araujo, and interpreter Claudio Luzardi.
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Although Souza’s tenure lasted only one season, his impact on the pitch was significant. The Brazilian successfully guided the Macan Kemayoran to a third-place finish, accumulating a total of 71 points during the campaign.
That 71-point haul represents a historic milestone for the club, marking the highest point total Persija Jakarta has achieved since the inception of the Liga 1 era in 2017. Beyond the numbers, Souza was credited with instilling a clear and powerful tactical identity.
Under his leadership, Persija evolved into a side that consistently dominated possession, played with high aggression, and maintained the tactical bravery to press opponents relentlessly in various match situations.
”Coach Mauricio brought a strong character to Persija’s identity this season. However, because the targets set at the beginning of the contract were not achieved, we mutually agreed not to continue our journey together,” Prapanca explained.
The club expressed its deep appreciation for the dedication shown by Souza and his staff, wishing them the best of luck in their future professional endeavors.
”We wish Mauricio and his staff—Coach Italo, Vitor, Gerson, Caio, and Luzardi—the very best of luck and continued success in the next chapter of their careers,” Prapanca added.
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The football community is now eagerly waiting to see who management will appoint to lead the Macan Kemayoran for the 2026/2027 Super League season. Rumors regarding the vacancy have already begun to circulate across social media platforms.
Names such as Alexandre Gama and even former Indonesia National Team head coach Shin Tae-yong have surfaced in the rumor mill as fans speculate on who will take the reins at the capital club.
Summary
Persija Jakarta secara resmi berpisah dengan pelatih kepala Mauricio Souza dan seluruh stafnya pada 26 Mei, setelah memilih untuk tidak memperpanjang kontraknya karena tim gagal memenuhi target performa spesifik. Meskipun demikian, Souza berhasil membawa Macan Kemayoran finis di posisi ketiga dengan 71 poin, sebuah rekor klub di era Liga 1 sejak 2017. Ia dipuji karena berhasil menanamkan identitas taktis yang kuat, berfokus pada penguasaan bola, agresivitas, dan tekanan tanpa henti.
Menyusul kepergian Souza, manajemen Persija telah dengan cepat mencari penggantinya dan secara aktif berkomunikasi dengan beberapa kandidat pelatih. Direktur Mohamad Prapanca menyatakan bahwa klub bertujuan untuk segera menentukan sosok yang paling tepat untuk memimpin Persija menuju juara di musim 2026/2027. Spekulasi mengenai pelatih kepala berikutnya sangat tinggi, dengan nama-nama seperti Alexandre Gama dan Shin Tae-yong disebut-sebut dalam rumor.