"Ask Son Heung-min to run to death."
Among the active English Premier League players, there is the only player who has achieved double-digit scoring for nine consecutive seasons. In name and reality, it is a 'legendary' performance. However, his team does not treat him properly. Rather, he is refusing to renew his contract, citing concerns that his skills will deteriorate as he gets older. I only invoked the option of a one-year extension under the terms of the existing contract.
The coach even instructs the player, the team's symbol, to `run to the death.' He doesn't seem to care at all about the abuse. However, the player has never rejected this instruction, and is silently doing his best in his role. It is an icon of obedience. He is Tottenham Hotspur Captain Son Heung-min (33).
Coach Enze Postecoglou explained Son Heung-min's role in the team, praised his character, and revealed what instructions he usually gives. Coach Postecoglou mentioned Son Heung-min at a pre-press conference ahead of the 23rd round home game of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2024-2025 season against Leicester City at 11 p.m. on the 26th (Korea time).
Asked what he thought of Son as a captain, Postecoglou praised him, saying, `I have mentioned it many times, but Son is an outstanding player, a great human being.' Like all players in the team, Son Heung-min has had to go through a hard process over the past few months. I always ask Son Heung-min to play to death. It's hard to stay in good shape all the time as a striker. But Son never shied away from the challenge", he explained.
This is an answer that shows Son Heung-min's humanity and responsibility. At the same time, it shows how much responsibility Son Heung-min is given, especially by Postecoglou, within the team, and how faithfully he is performing it. At first glance, it may be seen as 'harsh'. Son, however, has no complaints. It's a true leader.
There is a reason why Son Heung-min has so much baggage. Tottenham has suffered a myriad of injuries since the beginning of this season. As many as 11 players, from goalkeepers to defenders, midfielders and strikers, were out of the team due to injuries. Rodrigo Bentancur and Christian Romero recently returned, but striker Dominic Solanke was again ruled '6 weeks out' due to injury.
As a result, Son must serve as the spearhead of the attack alone, including a one-top striker as well as a left flanker. There is no player to trust. That's why Postecoglou is also forced to rely on Son Heung-min.
Son Heung-min is still faithfully responding to Postecoglou's demands. In the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League phase 7 Hoffenheim match held on the 24th, he also started as a left wing and scored goals in the 22nd and 32nd minutes of the first half to lead his team to a 3-2 victory.
Thanks to this, Son Heung-min scored his ninth and 10th points of the season, achieving double-digit scores for nine consecutive seasons from the 2016-2017 season. It is the only record among active players in the EPL.
The BBC, a British public broadcaster, explained that Son Heung-min is the only active player who has set a double-digit record in official games since the 2016-2017 season. Mohamed Salah or Elling Holan are also records that have yet to be achieved. Liverpool's scoring machine Salah has scored double digits for eight consecutive seasons since the 2017-2018 season. Holan has been active on the EPL stage since the 2022-2023 season.
There is also a more special record. The BBC said Son Heung-min scored two goals in the UEL, scoring a total of 26 goals in the UEFA club competition. He is the second player to score more than 25 goals in a European tournament at Tottenham. Harry Kane is the only Tottenham player who has scored more goals than Son Heung-min.
With Solanke out due to injury, Son Heung-min is actually the only player who will definitely expect a goal for Tottenham. Although Hishalisson returned from injury, he was not a player with high expectations even before the injury. Mikey Moore, who is being treated as the `Aces of the Future' by the club and fans, is still 18 years old.
Now Son Heung-min has been given a mission to raise the team from the brink of a fall in the league's relegation zone. Tottenham is currently falling to 15th place in the league (7 wins, 3 draws and 12 losses, 24 points). It is in the league for three consecutive years. Even if it is difficult to reach the top, we must move further away from the relegation zone. Ipswich (3 wins, 7 draws and 12 losses, 16 points) currently marks the starting point of the relegation. It's not a safe interval.
Fortunately, Leicester City is ranked 19th in the 23rd round. You must win because you play at home against a lower-ranked team. Son Heung-min himself needs to add more goals. Adding four league goals will achieve the record of '9 consecutive EPL double-digit goals scored'. If three goals are added in both league games and club competitions, it can jump from fifth place in Tottenham's total score (172 goals) to fourth place. He is currently two goals behind Martin Chivers (174 goals) who is ranked fourth.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
