From humble beginnings in Chuncheon, South Korea, to becoming one of the English Premier League’s brightest stars, Son Heung-min’s story is an example of perseverance and determination. Born on July 8, 1992, Son is currently a forward for Tottenham Hotspur FC, where he is considered an offensive pillar.
The first steps towards success
Son of Son Woong-jung, a former soccer player who played for the South Korean national team, Son grew up influenced by the love of this sport. At the age of 7, he admired players like Park Ji-sung and Lee Chung-yong, who inspired him to dream of success in Europe.
After training at the FC Seoul youth academy, the talented South Korean player took an important step in his professional career at the age of 16 by joining the Hamburg SV academy in Germany, thanks to a project from the South Korean Football Association. .
In his first years in Germany, Son showed great commitment to his career. He learned German by watching episodes of spongebob and worked hard to stand out in the Bundesliga. After an outstanding preseason in 2010-11, he signed a professional contract with Hamburg and became the club’s youngest player to score in the Bundesliga, at just 18 years old.
In June 2013, Bayer Leverkusen signed Son for €10 million, a club record at the time. During his stay, the young player shone with notable performances as a hat trick against his former team, Hamburg. His goal-scoring ability and impressive speed caught the attention of big European clubs.
In his two seasons with Leverkusen, he scored 29 goals in 87 appearances, establishing himself as one of the most promising players in the Bundesliga and one of the best Asian talents in Europe.
Arrival in the Premier League
In August 2015, the Tottenham Hotspur announced the incorporation of Son for 30 million euros, making him the most expensive Asian player in history. Since then, his impact on the London team has been indisputable. In November 2017, by scoring his 20th Premier League goal against Crystal Palace, the player became the Asian top scorer in league history.
With Spurs, Son has proven capable of scoring spectacular goals, including a goal against Burnley in 2019 that was voted best of the season by the Premier League. In addition, he has been key in important moments, such as Tottenham’s campaign to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019.
His participation in the national team
With the South Korean national team, Son has played 131 games and scored 51 goals. He has participated in three World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022) and the 2015 Asian Cup, where South Korea was runner-up and Son was included in the tournament’s ideal team.
In 2018, he led his team at the Asian Games, where they won the gold medal. This victory was especially significant, as it allowed him to reduce mandatory military service to just three weeks. Years later, during his military training in 2020, Son stood out for his discipline and finished among the top five in his class.
A figure much loved by fans
Among football fans, Son is not only admired for his football skills, but also for his humble character and professionalism. In South Korea he has become a source of inspiration for new generations of footballers.
At Tottenham, Son is also known for his camaraderie with teammates and his close relationship with fans. His actions on and off the field of play have led to his image as one of the most beloved players in the world of football.
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