 |
| ReutersYonhap News |
|
 |
| ◇Son Heung-min complaining of a hamstring injury during the match against Karabakh in September. REUTERS Yonhap News |
|
Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham), who has been playing hard on the top stage in Europe for more than 10 years, can't go against the time.
Not long after returning from a hamstring injury, his body broke down again.
Tottenham manager Engie Postecoglou said at a pre-press conference for the third leg of the 2024-2025 European Europa League (UEL) League phase against AZ Alkmaar at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 23rd (Korea time), Son Heung-min, who returned from injury in the eighth round (4-1 win) of the English Premier League against West Ham on the 19th, will rest against Alkmaar because he feels a little pain.
Son Heung-min was replaced with a hamstring injury during the first UEL match (3-0 win) against Karabakh on the 27th of last month and missed three games, including Manchester United (3-0 win), Ferencvaros (2-1 win), and Brighton (2-3 loss). In the meantime, the South Korean national soccer team's 3rd and 4th Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North-China World Cup were held, including Jordan (2-0 wins) and Iraq (3-2 wins), and a total of five games were rested. If he misses the match against Alkmaar as Postecoglou predicted, he will miss six games in a month.
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| ReutersYonhap News |
|
It is the first time in two years that Son Heung-min, who is said to have been born with a blessed body that does not get injured, has missed more than six games in a month since he took eight games off for about a month due to a hamstring injury in January-February 2022. Excluding foot fractures from August to October 2010, foot injuries from September to November 2015, arm fractures from February to April 2020, and hamstring injuries from January to February 2022, there are no cases of long-term absences. Even in November 2022, when he suffered a facial fracture, he played in the 2022 Qatar World Cup in winter after taking a break from only four games, including a national team match with his team.
Of course, the reason for missing the match against Alkmaar seems to be closer to 'injury prevention' to play normally in more important games in the future, but the signal that his physical condition continues to break down is by no means positive. Moreover, Son showed off his solid performance by scoring his team's fourth goal against West Ham "Sadly, I'm 32 years old." I'm playing as if every game is the last one." It was a heartbreaking confession from a veteran who has already entered the second half of his career.
Son Heung-min, whose contract expires next summer after renewing his contract with Tottenham twice, has yet to negotiate an extension contract with the club, and some media have begun reporting on Son's successors, including Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon), Wilson O'Donbert and Mikey Moore (Tottenham), who are scheduled to go to Tottenham in January next year. Tottenham are in fifth place in the Europa League phase with a two-game run. Son Heung-min is expected to return to the league's ninth round away game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the 27th at the earliest.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
