'Son National'Son National' Son Heung-min's consecutive double-digit scoring record in the league was frustrated.
Son Heung-min's absence from the last game has been confirmed. Tottenham will play Brighton in the 38th round of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2024-2025 season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England on the 26th (Korea time). Tottenham fell to 17th place in the league, but it is a game that does not mean much, as it has confirmed its stay.
Coach Enze Postecoglou predicted Son Heung-min's absence at a pre-press conference. He said "Some players will be absent. Christian Romero has been suffering from a toe injury for quite some time, so he will be ruled out. Son Heung-min also made tremendous efforts to play in the final, saying, `I will exclude Son Heung-min because his feet are not better yet.' Yves Bissouma was injured during the game and is 50-50, but the rest are in good shape."
Tottenham also said on the club's official channel that Son Heung-min and Romero, vice-captain, will not be able to play in the final match against Brighton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son Heung-min is still having trouble with his foot. He added that 'Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Lucas Beribal and Radu Dragusin, who were already on the injured list, will not be able to join as well'.
Son Heung-min also said after the last Europa League final that his injury is not perfect yet. I would think that just for this game, I came back really fast and it wasn't as serious an injury as I thought it would be, but it wasn't anything like that. For me, in a way, I'm very happy to be able to play the most important game in my life today."
Son Heung-min's absence is confirmed, and Son Heung-min's record this season ended with seven goals and 10 assists. If he scored a hat trick in the final game, he could have continued his record but failed to score double digits. Unfortunately, the double-digit scoring record from the 2016-2017 season ended in nine seasons.
Starting with 14 goals in the 2016-2017 season, he scored 12 goals each in the 2017-2018 season and the 2018-2019 season. He scored 11 goals in the 2019-2020 season and 17 goals in the 2020-2021 season. He became the top scorer with 23 goals in the 2021-2022 season. In the 2022-2023 season, despite being sluggish due to injuries, he scored 10 goals to score double-digit points. He scored 17 goals last season.
Only seven players, including Son Heung-min, have scored double digits for eight consecutive seasons in the EPL. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Sergio Aguero (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Thierry Henry (Arnall) and Sadio Mane (Liverpool) have them.
Son Heung-min challenged Aguero and Kane's double-digit scoring records for nine consecutive seasons, but unfortunately failed. For reference, Rooney has scored in 11 seasons and Lampard in 10 consecutive seasons.
Unfortunately, the record was closed, but Son Heung-min had his best season. Tottenham won 1-0 in the Europa League (UEL) final (one-off match) of the 2024-2025 season against Manchester United at Estadio San Mames in Bilbao, Spain on the 22nd. Tottenham, which led with Brennan Johnson's winning goal in the 42nd minute of the first half, endured Manchester United's wave offensive well the rest of the time and won the title for the first time in 17 years since lifting the 2007-2008 League Cup. It was the first time in 41 years that the European club won the 1983-1984 UEFA Cup.
It was his first major victory since his professional debut in the 2010-2011 season. Son Heung-min is undoubtedly a "world class". In addition to being the first Asian to become the top scorer in the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2021-2022 season, he won the FIFA (International Football Federation) Puskas Award, the EPL Player of the Month Award, and the Asia Award, which is given to the player who scored the best goal of the year in 2020. Including the awards that were not listed, he has had a brighter career than anyone else.
The only thing he didn't have, the perfect trophy. Son Heung-min has played on the world's best stages, including the German Bundesliga, the English Premier League (EPL), the European Champions League (UCL), and the FIFA World Cup, but has never been at the top. The gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games was the only winning record. The Asian Games are not organized by FIFA. He reached the UCL in the 2018-2019 season and the League Cup final in the 2020-2021 season, but all finished second. They lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the 2019 UCL final and 0-1 to Manchester City in the 2021 League Cup final.
Son Heung-min started on the bench against Manchester United. Son Heung-min, who returned from a foot injury, started in the 37th round of the EPL against Aston Villa on the 17th and finished preheating by playing on the ground for 74 minutes. Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou hinted at starting the game, saying, `Son Heung-min is ready to play in the UEL final.' However, Postecoglou chose the Hisalisson card instead of Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min was substituted in the 22nd minute of the second half when Hishalisson collapsed due to an injury. Son Heung-min kept one goal through dedicated play. He blocked and blocked Manchester United's attack with a movement close to wingback. Manchester United's last wave of attacks was over, and the end whistle blew.
Son Heung-min immediately knelt on the ground and cried when the much-awaited victory was confirmed. Team mate Rodrigo Bentancur, who had a racist issue, was the first to approach and hug Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min congratulated him saying, "(Bentankur) no one can congratulate him more than you." he said. Son Heung-min, who wore the Korean national flag around his body and went around every corner of the stadium, shed tears of joy, not regret. Son Woong-jung, the father, also came down to the ground and hugged his son, who worked hard. UEFA's mistake prevented him from getting a medal around his neck, but it didn't matter. Son Heung-min, who stood at the center of the podium as Tottenham's captain, lifted the trophy with cheers and celebrations from his teammates.
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| Photo capture=Tottenham SNS |
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Son Heung-min has now become Tottenham's 'living legend' He became the first Tottenham captain to lift the trophy since 2008. Tottenham praised Son Heung-min for his hard work on social media with a picture of him wearing the Korean national flag and writing, `The first captain from South Korea to lead the team to a major championship.' Son Heung-min has 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 Tottenham games. Tottenham ranks fifth in the most appearances in history, fourth in the most points scored, and first in the most assists. Son Heung-min, who waved his hands at the title "legend," was also different on the day. Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, he said "I will now say 'Legend". Why isn't it working. Just today! No one has done it in 17 years. This is what I've always dreamed of. I'm the happiest person in the world." He was smiling even though he slightly injured his forehead after being hit by the trophy.
Tottenham also responded. On the 23rd, Son Heung-min lifted the European national championship trophy through his official channel. Joined the elite group of Tottenham captains. It was officially recognized as a legend of Tottenham. Son Heung-min was on par with Alan Mullally in the 1971-1972 season and Steve Perryman in the 1983-1984 season.
Spurs Web, which specializes in Tottenham news, has started to honor its best players by creating murals near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent years. A mural was built in 2022 to honor legendary defender Redley King, and the following year marked Kane's achievement as the club's all-time leading scorer. It is natural that Son Heung-min will become the next Tottenham player to receive this honor. What better way to do it than to portray him lifting the most elegantly designed trophy in football?' Fans voiced the need for a statue to be erected.
Son Heung-min fully enjoyed the joy. Son Heung-min sat in the front seat of the club bus on his way back to his accommodation after confirming the championship, honking his horn and cheering for the fans. He wore a medal around his neck even the day after winning the championship. During the victory parade after his return to London, he screamed with the expletive 'FXXXXXX' the whole time. Son Heung-min said on social media that he had dreamed of such a moment since his first visit to Tottenham Hotspur.Yesterday was a day that will be remembered for the rest of my life. Being able to wear a Tottenham uniform with you and lift the trophy with your support means more than just posting on social media. I feel really good about it,' he said in a thank-you note.
It is then for all Tottenham fans who have waited without losing hope and loyalty. It is a trophy for the fans who continued to support me and the team when they were struggling, came to the stadium, and trusted me. We did it together. From White Hart Lane (former home stadium) to now Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and from Bilbao back to London, we did it together. I will never forget this moment.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
