Bojan brings out the best in his boys

The Star

11-05-2025

Man with Midas touch: Bojan Hodak is all smiles with his players after winning the league title. — Persib Bandung
PETALING JAYA: Bojan Hodak is stamping his authority as one of South-East Asia's most successful coaches and his latest conquest has come in style, leading Persib Bandung to back-to-back Liga 1 Indonesia titles.
The 54-year-old Croatian, who began his head coaching career in Malaysia with UPB-MyTeam in 2006, has transformed Persib into a dominant force since joining them midway through 2023.
Back then, Persib were languishing in 16th place but Hodak's arrival has sparked a remarkable turnaround.
They surged to finish second in the regular season and stormed into the Championship Series final, eventually crushing Madura United 6-1 on aggregate.
This season, with the league format reverting to a single-table format (no playoffs), Persib clinched the Liga 1 title with four matches to spare, a feat underlining their dominance.
With two games remaining, they have 65 points from 32 matches, a full eight points ahead of second-placed Dewa United.
Asked about his secret to success, the ever-affable Hodak offered a typical self-effacing quip: 'Probably I'm just lucky.'
But as he elaborated, it became clear that luck alone didn't build champions.
'I will say it again, luck is part of life, I have my superstitions but the most important thing, in football and in life, is man management,' said Hodak, who previously helmed Kelantan, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Kuala Lumpur.
'If you can't get a group of people to follow you, you can't achieve anything. They need to work together, follow the same ethos, be a family. Only then do fitness and tactics come in.'
Hodak cited Kuala Lumpur as an example of how belief and unity can conquer odds.
'We had a small budget, a unique setup, but every player was ready to die for each other. That's how we won the Malaysia Cup in 2021 and reached the AFC Cup final in 2022.'
'It's a similar situation in Bandung. When I arrived, the dressing room was fractured. I brought in my philosophy, changed a few players, and here we are.'
Hodak's approach to the game is refreshingly simple.
'Don't complicate football. Keep it simple and focus on winning each game.'
Despite his success, he admits the Indonesian league presents unique challenges.
'This league isn't like Malaysia, where one team dominate. Here, anyone can beat anyone. We've dropped points against teams near the bottom and mid-table.
'Travelling is a big test too, getting to Papua can take 11 or 12 hours. In Malaysia, the longest trip is maybe 2.5 hours to East Malaysia.'
'Also, some training grounds and stadiums need improvement, though things are getting better since the Under-17 World Cup.'
Hodak sees promise in Indonesia's youth talent but notes a gap between emerging and senior players.
'The talent is there, but they need to work really hard to break into the first team.'
Though Croatian by birth, Hodak's heart is clearly tied to Malaysia.
'There's a saying in Croatia – you're from where your wife is. So I'm Malaysian thanks to my wife,' he said.
'Wherever I go, I want to win. I won the treble with Kelantan in 2012, helped JDT win their first league title in 2014, won the AFF Under-19 title for Malaysia, and now back-to-back titles in Indonesia.'
And with his trademark humour, Hodak summed it up best – 'I guess I'm just lucky.'