Bernardo Tavares Stands Alone as Super League 2026/2027's Only Indonesian Champion Coach

The Super League 2026/2027 season will feature 18 head coaches competing to establish their teams among Indonesia's elite, but only one of them enters the campaign with a domestic league title already on his résumé. That coach is Bernardo Tavares, who previously guided PSM Makassar to the Liga 1 championship in the 2022/2023 season.

Tavares is now facing a new challenge with Persebaya Surabaya, bringing valuable experience of winning the Indonesian top flight to a club with strong ambitions. His previous success gives him a unique position among this season's coaches, as none of the other 17 head coaches have previously lifted a domestic championship trophy in Indonesia.

One of the biggest absences from the Super League this season is Bojan Hodak, who enjoyed an exceptional spell with Persib Bandung. Hodak led Persib to three consecutive league titles from 2023/2024 through 2025/2026 before stepping away from the head coach position. He remains involved with Persib as Technical Advisor, while Igor Tolic has taken over the main coaching role.

Stefano Cugurra is another highly successful coach who will not be part of the Super League this season. Known as Teco, the Brazilian has won three Liga 1 titles, beginning with Persija Jakarta in 2018 before guiding Bali United to championships in 2019 and 2021/2022. His most recent role was with Barito Putera in the second tier during the 2025/2026 campaign, although he was unable to lead the club back to the top flight.

With Hodak and Cugurra outside the Super League, Tavares becomes the only active head coach in the competition with a proven Indonesian league championship on his record. His experience could become an important asset as Persebaya prepare for a demanding season, while the other coaches will look to create their own success and challenge the established hierarchy at the top of Indonesian football.