In Bilbao, Spain, on the night of lifting the Europa League trophy, all efforts, loyalty, goals, tears, all were rewarded Son Heung-min.
Also at San Mames, Son is the representative image of Tottenham and Spurs is the incarnation of this striker Son, an inseparable relationship for 10 years.
Before the final, captain Ange Postecoglou told the players that if they defeated Manchester United, the whole world's view of Son Heung-min and Tottenham would change immediately. The whole team fought for Son and for Tottenham. At that time, there was no longer any line between those two concepts.
Rarely has anyone reached a complete union with a club like Son Heung-min. It is not only a track achievement, it is also a deep, unconditional love. The position of the Korean striker in memories, history and the Tottenham community is irreplaceable.
Sonny is Tottenham and Tottenham is Sonny. It's strange to think of Spurs without Son" - James Maddison shared.
To tell the story of Son and Tottenham, it is necessary to go back 12 years ago, back to the 2012-13 season, when he was still a 20-year-old man, to start impressing at Hamburg. Adapting to German football is not easy, but experts are gradually paying attention to the agile, elegant striker who is gradually penetrating the Bundesliga defenses.
After many changes, on August 28, 2015, Tottenham signed Son Heung-min for £22 million. Initially, the young Korean striker had a dream start when scoring 2 goals against Qarabag in the Europa League, then scored the decisive goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
However, the foot injury he suffered against Man City caused Son to completely collapse in his first season. He has only started 10 more Premier League games since then, mostly as Spurs have run out of steam in the title race.
In the summer of 2016, after the Olympics in Brazil, Son almost returned to the Bundesliga. Wolfsburg got involved. He even went straight into the room of captain Mauricio Pochettino and said: "I'm not comfortable, I want to return to Germany".
Pochettino refused. He said that Son had to fight for the position. At that time, the Korean star decided to stay. After the international break, the striker born in 1992 started against Stoke City and scored 2 goals and 1 assist. That was Son's real start at Tottenham.
Since 2016, Son's form has been constantly improving. In the next 68 years, he became one of the best wingers in the world. The wind speeds, shots on both legs, sharp finishing, smart positioning, all stand out for Son Heung-min. Ange Postecoglou once shared: "He is a top striker in the wing position. There were times when Son received the ball on the left, opened his ball and confided - you know for sure it was a goal before the ball left your foot".
Son Heung-min's return to the Etihad in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals was one of his best performances. He scored twice, one with his right foot through Ederson, the other with his left foot into the far corner after the ball was turned away by Kyle Walker. Superness, coldness and emotion are the characteristics of Son Heung-min.
The 2021-2022 season is also a memorable milestone in Son's career. He scored 23 goals and received the Premier League Top Scorer award with Mohamed Salah. Among the goals he scored that season, he did not take any penalty kicks.
In 2023, Harry Kane left to choose Bayern Munich. Ange Postecoglou chose Son as the new captain. In the 2024-2025 season, which was also Son Heung-min's last campaign at Tottenham, he struggled with injuries. The Korean striker has lost his pace and is absent from many important matches. However, Postecoglou still trusted him.
The image of Son burst into tears when raising the Europa League title is the most beautiful ending for the brilliant 10-year journey. Son is not just a simple player, he is the embodiment of beautiful football and the embodiment of kindness.
From gifts for teammates every time they return to Korea, to meals cooked by his mother for best friend Kevin Wimmer, from signs for fans without tiring, to surprising sendings, Son always cares about others and they never forget that.
Son Heung-min left Tottenham Hotspur after 10 years with a title, tears and a perfect ending, something not many people have.
