Latest news with #SonHeung-min
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Son Heung-min: The boy from Chuncheon who conquered Europe
SHAH ALAM – For 15 long years, Son Heung-min pursued trophies across Europe's premier leagues, enduring heartbreaks, injuries and close calls. His journey finally came full circle on a dazzling night in Bilbao, Spain. Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean forward Son Heung-min is challenged by Manchester United's Ivorian forward #16 Amad Diallo during the UEFA Europa League final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21, 2025. (Photo by CESAR MANSO / AFP) The South Korean superstar, wrapped in the Taegeukgi and roaring with joy, finally stood tall, not just as Tottenham Hotspur's captain, but as a champion. There is a quiet poetry in how football writes its stories. For Son Heung-min, the script was long and winding, stitched with near-glories and personal battles. But under the floodlights of San Mames Stadium, with a gold medal around his neck and a glittering UEFA Europa League trophy in his hands, Son finally rewrote his ending. Tottenham Hotspur edged past Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday night to clinch their first major title in 17 years and their first European silverware since 1984. The night belonged to Welshman Brennan Johnson, who netted the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute, capitalising on a cross from Pape Sarr that deflected off Luke Shaw. It was a tense, dramatic affair where Spurs had to survive wave after wave of Manchester United attacks. Micky van de Ven made a goal-line clearance in the 68th minute that left hearts in mouths, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario pulled off a miraculous stop in the dying seconds to preserve the victory. Even as the match itself raged with tactical tension, all eyes were inevitably drawn to one man: Son Heung-min. After being sidelined with a foot injury for most of the Europa League knockout stages, including the quarterfinals and semifinals, Son was deemed physically ready ahead of the final by BBC Sport. Yet manager Ange Postecoglou made a strategic call to keep him on the bench. 'He is fit enough to make the squad, but not quite sharp enough to make the lineup,' Postecoglou said. That did not stop Son from making a profound impact. Substituted in for Richarlison in the 67th minute, he brought calm and leadership to a Spurs side desperate to hold on. When the final whistle blew, it was Son who had the honour of receiving the trophy from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean forward Son Heung-min raises the trophy as he celebrates with teammates winning the UEFA Europa League final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP) With the South Korean flag draped around his waist and tears brimming in his eyes, Son raised the trophy skyward, completing a personal quest that began in Germany with Hamburger SV in 2010 and continued through years of loyalty at Tottenham, whom he joined in 2015. Fans had long cried out for silverware to match Son's stellar stats and selfless service. He had come close before the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, the 2021 EFL Cup final, and a second-place Premier League finish in 2016-17—but trophies always seemed to elude him. Now, at 32, Son becomes the first South Korean captain to lift a major European trophy and only the fourth South Korean player to win the UEFA Cup or Europa League. He follows legends like Cha Bum-kun, who triumphed with Eintracht Frankfurt in 1980 and Bayer Leverkusen in 1988, and Kim Dong-jin and Lee Ho, who lifted the trophy with Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2008. For Spurs, the victory means more than a trophy; it secures them a place in the UEFA Champions League for the 2025-2026 season, an opportunity to return to Europe's grandest stage. For Son, this is not just about a medal. It is about validation, vindication and legacy. 'Legend' is a word tossed around too often in football, but when it comes to Son Heung-min, it finally fits just right. With a career marked by countless goals, assists and remarkable humility, he is far more than just a Tottenham legend. He has firmly secured his place among the greatest Asian footballers of all time, standing proudly alongside his mentor and senior, former South Korean captain and Manchester United icon Park Ji-sung—the most decorated Asian player with 19 trophies—Cha Bum-kun and Malaysia's very own 'Super Mokh,' the late Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Dahari. Mokhtar Dahari ranks as the fourth-highest scorer in international men's football history, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Ali Daei and Lionel Messi with 89 goals in 142 appearances. Remarkably, he turned down an offer to join arguably one of the greatest clubs ever, Real Madrid, choosing instead to remain loyal to his beloved Selangor FC. While others may have accumulated more trophies, Son's exceptional talent, unwavering loyalty and his role as a cultural ambassador for Asian football place him in a league entirely his own. The boy from Chuncheon who dreamed big and played with heart now has his crowning moment. It was worth every step.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Saudi interest in Spurs' Son - Wednesday's gossip
Tottenham could sell Son Heung-min amid Saudi Arabia interest, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi puts question mark over Arsenal move and Chelsea make approach for AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan. Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is a target for Saudi Arabian clubs and Spurs could choose to cash in on the 32-year-old South Korean as they look to generate transfer funds. (Telegraph) Advertisement Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho could also be heading to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr all interested in the 25-year-old England international. (Mirror) Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 26, has cast doubt over a move to Arsenal, with the Spain international saying he has "options" and is unsure about where he will end up. (Radio Nacional de Espana, via Metro) Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, is hoping for wages of £250,000 a week - five times his current wage - if he joins Manchester United. (Times - subscription required) Inter Milan have have made contact with Como manager Cesc Fabregas about the former Spain midfielder taking over as their new manager following the departure of Simone Inzaghi. (Sky Sports Italia - in Italian) Advertisement Chelsea have made an approach to sign 29-year-old France keeper Mike Maignan, who has one year left on his contract at AC Milan. (Talksport) Crystal Palace part-owner John Textor, who also owns French side Lyon, is trying to sell his majority share in the club as the Eagles try to avoid being disqualified from the Europa League next season for breaking Uefa's multi-club ownership rules. (Mail) England keeper Aaron Ramsdale has held talks about a move to West Ham from Southampton, who are hoping to get £20m for the 27-year-old following the club's relegation from the Premier League. (Talksport) Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, 39, has verbally agreed to join AC Milan when he leaves Real Madrid after the Fifa Club World Cup this summer. (Gianluca di Marzio, via Football Italia)
Metro
2 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Son Heung-min set to leave Tottenham after 10 years at north London club
Son Heung-Min is Spurs' captain and helped the club land the Europa League trophy in May (Picture: Getty) Son Heung-min is 'set to leave Tottenham' this summer after becoming a key target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League, according to reports. The South Korean has been at Spurs for the last decade, scoring 173 goals and providing 101 assists across 454 games for the north London club. Son is a hugely popular player at Tottenham, having recently helped them end their 17-year wait for a trophy by clinching the Europa League title. But it seems that the Spurs captain is set to leave in the current summer transfer window after The Telegraph dropped a huge update on Tuesday. Why have Spurs decided to sell Son Heung-min? The newspaper reports that Son is set for an exit because Spurs wish to 'generate transfer funds' and 'reshape their squad' for the 2025-26 season. Son, who can operate as a left winger or centre-forward, is wanted by several teams from Saudi Arabia and Spurs are keen to cash in on him. Son Heung-min will go down as one of Tottenham's biggest legends (Picture: AFP) The 32-year-old only has one year left on his deal and Spurs would rather sell him now and generate a fee than lose him as a free agent in 2026. Son conjured up seven goals and 10 assists across 30 Premier League games in the 2024-25 campaign under head coach Ange Postecoglou. He was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2021 and landed the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022. Son Heung-min is a key target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League (Picture: Reuters) Son has been crowned Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Season on three occasions and also helped the team to runner-up finishes in the Champions League and Carabao Cup in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Son Heung-min left emotional after Europa League triumph Son was left incredibly emotional after helping the club win the Europa League in May with Spurs' attacking superstar spotted in floods of tears. 'Let's say I'm a legend – why not?' Son told TNT Sports after the victory over Manchester United in the final. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page 'Seventeen years – nobody has done it, so let's say with amazing players, [I am] probably a legend of the club. 'This is what I've always dreamed for. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world.' More Trending Tottenham boss Postecoglou also lauded Son, the club's longest serving player, after the Europa League final win over United. 'We've had some unbelievable champion footballers at this club – Harry [Kane] is a prime example – and they haven't had a day like this,' Postecoglou said. 'I wanted a day like this for Sonny because he has done everything he can in the last 10 years to try and get this feeling and for some reason it hasn't worked.' Son's 10-year spell at Tottenham now looks set to end on a high with a trophy. Arrow MORE: Gianluigi Donnarumma's agent responds to talk of shock PSG exit Arrow MORE: Martin Zubimendi raises doubt over £50m Arsenal transfer after medical claim
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Spurs consider Son Heung-min sale in desperate bid to raise transfer funds
Tottenham may look to sell captain Son Heung-min in the summer transfer window in order to fund a squad rebuild. Son has been with Spurs for 10 years, making 454 appearances for the club, but there is a feeling his time could be coming to an end. The Telegraph reports that, with one year left on his existing contract, Spurs feel the time is right to wave goodbye to a club legend. Son has attracted interest from Saudi Pro League clubs and this is the last transfer window in which he could generate a decent fee. The 32-year-old forward has 173 goals and 101 assists for Tottenham since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. But while he returned 11 goals and 10 assists in 46 games, he showed obvious signs of regression in the 2024/25 season. Spurs triggered a one-year extension in his deal in January to protect his transfer value and he could be targeted by a Saudi club this summer. The South Korean international is extremely famous in Asia and could still be an asset in the Pro League. Tottenham ended a 17-year wait for silverware by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last month, but are still planning a major overhaul. Manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to be sacked by chairman Daniel Levy and it seems Son could also be a high-profile victim of the changes. He is currently away on international duty with South Korea, who face Iraq and Kuwait in World Cup qualifiers over the next week. But he is not expected to play in either match, with South Korea only needing a point from the two games to qualify. Son missed the last Spurs game of the season with a foot injury and did not appear in the club's kit launch for the 2025/26 season. Were he to leave this summer, Son would do so with his status as a club legend secure. He has been a reliable performer for 10 years and was able to lift the Europa League thanks to Brennan Johnson's goal in Bilbao. "Let's say I'm a legend. Why not? Only today!" Son told TNT Sports. "17 years nobody has done it, so with such amazing players yeah today's the day. Probably today I will say I'm a legend of this club. "I feel amazing. This is what I've always dreamed for and today is the day it happened. Dream came really, really true. I'm so so happy. I am the happiest man in the world." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Son Heung-min ‘could LEAVE Tottenham' as club look to cash in for squad transfer overhaul
SON GOES DOWN Son Heung-min 'could LEAVE Tottenham' as club look to cash in for squad transfer overhaul TOTTENHAM legend Son Heung-min is set to leave the club, according to reports. The Spurs skipper lifted the Europa League in what could prove to be his final appearance. 1 Son Heung-Min looks set to leave Spurs Credit: Getty Son has been in North London for the last ten years, playing 454 games and scoring 173 goals. But his time now appears to be up as Tottenham are looking to cash-in on him before his contract expires this time next year. The Telegraph report that a sale would bolster their summer transfer budget and fund a squad overhaul. Clubs from Saudi Arabia are interested in a deal for the Korean winger. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL BRAVE NEW WORLD Gary Lineker agrees deal with new broadcaster just a week after MOTD exit Chiefs view him as a "recognisable world star" that could boost the Pro League's growth in Asia. Tottenham triggered a one-year extension in Son's contract in January. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
