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Coaching professional football is nice work if you can get it.

Aji Santoso was only in charge of Persebaya Surabaya for 18 days, but securing promotion for his old club earned him a cool Rp 160 million ($15,700).

Persebaya asked the 39-year-old coach to take charge for one match, its playoff against PSMS Medan on Tuesday, after firing Arcan Iurie for finishing fourth in the Premier Division.

Aji was in between jobs after leaving Persik Kediri to coach newly promoted Persisam Samarinda, but he got permission from Persisam to lead his old club for the playoff.

Aji, a former left back who starred for Persebaya from 1995 to 1999, said his love for his old club drove his decision.

“You could say that I was taking a big gamble,” he said on Wednesday. “I knew that my reputation as a coach was on the line, especially if I failed. It was really difficult as Persebaya was not in a good condition.”

Persebaya and Aji’s gamble came up trumps. Endra Prasetya made two shootout saves when the playoff went to penalty kicks after extra time finished 1-1.

Aji’s compensation was not just joy at seeing his old club in the Indonesian Super League, either.

“I was asking for Rp 200 million, but Persebaya said it could only afford Rp 160 million, with the condition that I have to take the club to the Super League. I agreed and said that I wouldn’t take even a cent if I failed,” Aji said. “I would have got nothing if we lost to PSMS.”

Club management promised the team a Rp 250 million bonus if it secured promotion, and Aji will likely share in that windfall as well.

He now plans to rest for several days before going to Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to begin his duties with Persisam.

“I wish all the best for Persebaya in the Super League next season, and we’ll meet again as opponents next time,” Aji said.

Persebaya, back in the top flight for the first time since 2005, is one of the most decorated clubs in Indonesia. It is also one of the country’s most controversial teams. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) relegated the defending champions in 2005 for refusing to play Persija Jakarta and withdrawing from the Indonesia League playoffs. Persebaya said its fans were attacked a day before the match and insisted the incident was part of a “grand plan” to eliminate the club from the competition.

The PSSI initially sentenced Persebaya to a 16-month ban from all football competitions, but it later altered the ruling to relegation.

Antara, JG