A look at the evolution of Tottenham’s Heung-Min Son
By Gary Pearson
Heung-Min Son has been a revelation since joining Spurs in 2015, a journey that yesterday culminated with being anointed as the club’s Player of the Season for the first time.
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A model of consistency
A model of consistency, Son scored 14 goals in 2016/17 and 12 in both 2017/18, 2018/19. His goal ratio rate slightly improved from last season, with the South Korean scoring 0.39 goals per game.
Compare that with 0.32 goals per game in 2017/18. His best goal-per-game output, 0.41, came in 2016/17, his second season with Spurs. Underlining further his consistent offensive production, Son amassed six assists in each of the last three seasons.
Son finished the 2018/19 season with 20 goals in all competitions, four behind Harry Kane atop the latter.
The intangibles
His offensive output, while unquestionably important, contributes merely a fraction when evaluating his overall influence at the club. A consummate professional, Son’s passion for the sport is unparalleled. And even more crucially, Son unconditionally adores his club and supporters.
You can see how much playing for Spurs means to the South Korean. During Harry Kane’s absence earlier in the season, Son stepped up remarkably with captain-like performances, propelling his team to victory with crucial goals at opportune moments.
Goal of the season
He dominated Manchester City, scoring three goals over two legs in the Champions League quarterfinal. He also bagged a vital goal at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund in the previous round.
But the club anointed his marvellous individual effort against Chelsea as Goal of the Season.
Seeing him breeze past Jorginho and skin David Luiz brings immeasurable joy to the lives of every Tottenham supporter.
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It’s nigh on impossible to pick his most important goal of the season. But his best performance of the year surely came in Manchester, where he scored a brace in Kane’s absence to lead Tottenham into the Champions League semifinal. Dominating Manchester City’s defence, Son yet again showed his irrefutable class, and how far he’s come since joining Spurs.
The character of a champion
What he has in raw talent and refined skill is also matched by his maturity, humbleness and honesty. Son doesn’t play for notoriety or social media fame. He plays for his teammates, his gaffer and the badge on the shirt.
Desire alone helped him avoid a mandatory 21-month military service last year. Son’s South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in the Asian Games Final. Defeat would have derailed Son’s burgeoning career in North London, but he is used to having the odds stacked decisively against; however, he is a glowing example of what you can achieve with unrelenting dedication and unwavering commitment.
He’s an invaluable asset, a dream for Mauricio Pochettino. The gaffer has a fondness for Son that exceeds beyond most player-manager relationships. They agree philosophically about life and the main tenets of football.
They are both true gentlemen, ambassadors of the game. And those intangible qualities uplift, inspire and motivate anyone they come into contact with.
Pochettino ranks passion and desire above all else. He holds dear the ideas of loyalty, team unity, professionalism and dedication. Non-coincidentally, Son’s metaphysical nature is comprised of all those rare traits.
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Our favourite Son
Adored by fans, teammates and staff, Spurs’ South Korean elicits the best from everyone he plays with. His effervescence is contagious, a crucial element in creating, and maintaining, Spurs’ unbreakable off-field camaraderie.
Spurs supporters wouldn’t have batted an eyelid had Moussa Sissoko been named player of the season. But Son is fully deserving of the accolade, for where would the club be without his innumerable instrumental and timely heroics.
And all the while performing with the innocent joy of a kid on a playground.
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Clearly, it was the best £22 million Daniel Levy has ever spent. If only we landed another player blessed with the same type of potential for a similar transfer fee.
On second thought, a certain Lucas Moura only cost the club £25 million last year. After his astonishing, mesmerizing hat trick against Ajax, Moura looks to be following in Son’s footsteps, a path that has led the South Korean to international superstardom.