Hear from Jordi Amat, JDT captain and former Spain youth international who will be crucial for Indonesia in their upcoming FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers

Jordi Amat’s football journey has been nothing short of fascinating.

He represented Spain at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups, before a noteworthy stint with Swansea City in the Premier League drew global attention. He now proudly captains the Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim, where he’s amassed an impressive collection of trophies.

What truly adds a captivating layer to Amat’s story is his connection to Indonesia. At the age of 31, he can trace his ancestry to royal blood, earning him the title of prince.

After naturalisation, he also became an integral part of the national team. In a recent interview with FIFA, Amat delved into his remarkable journey and looked ahead to Indonesia’s upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Brunei.

From his early days playing with family to his youth at Espanyol, Amat’s winning spirit has always shone through. “That winning mentality as a kid,” he said, “I still have it today.” Amat’s international journey began at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009, where his Spain side finished with a bronze medal after losing to the hosts in the semi-finals.

“It was a very tough game against Nigeria. They were really strong, really fast. We were trying to play good football and we did, but it was not enough.” he recalls.

The former English Premier League star continued to recount his experience at the U-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2015, where fate had a surprise in store. “I met my wife over there,” he revealed, reflecting on how football truly gave him ‘everything.’

In 2013, he was signed by Denmark legend Michael Laudrup to play for Swansea City.