Veteran Goalkeeper Returns as Persib Solves Squad Dilemma

Persib Bandung decided to re-register veteran goalkeeper I Made Wirawan for the second half of the 2025-26 Super League season. The move came after the club removed Adam Przybek from its foreign-player quota, creating a gap in the squad and forcing adjustments to meet league requirements.

During the mid-season transfer window, Persib brought in striker Sergio Castel, who became the club’s twelfth foreign signing. League regulations, however, allow only eleven foreign players to be registered, so the coaching staff had to make a difficult decision to balance the roster while strengthening other positions.

With Przybek no longer part of the team, Persib was left with only Teja Paku Alam and Fitrah Maulana as goalkeepers. Competition rules require clubs to register at least three players in that position, which prompted the club to look for a practical solution in a limited time frame.

Head coach Bojan Hodak explained that finding a suitable goalkeeper in the transfer market was not easy, especially so late in the registration period. Under these circumstances, recalling Made, who had retired at the end of the 2022-23 season, became the most realistic option for the team.

Since the 2023-24 season, Made had been serving as an assistant goalkeeping coach, working alongside successive goalkeeping coaches at the club. Now he is taking on a dual role, returning as an active player while continuing his coaching duties, with the expectation that his experience and reliability will provide depth in the squad even if he is rarely called into action.