Heung-Min Son named AFC Asian international player of the year
By Tom Vinall
Tottenham Hotspur captain Heung-Min Son has been named the AFC Asian international player of the year, making it the fourth time in his career that he has won the award. An award given for Asian players that are currently playing outside of the continent.
The skipper had won it in 2015, 2017, and 2019 - whilst placing third in 2013 and 2016. The fact he was in the top three as far back as 2013, just goes to show how good Son has been for such a long time now.
Despite South Korea's surprise exit to Jordan in the semi-finals, Son was named in the Asian Cup team of the tournament, for his impressive performances throughout. His free-kick against Ange Postecoglu's Australia in the quarter-finals had got them through. He ended the tournament with three goals in six games.
Unfortunately for Son, his seven year winning streak of the "best footballer in Asia" award, which can include Asian players in Asia or outside, as well as foreign players within Asia, came to an end, finishing second to Qatarti international Akram Afif of Al-Sadd.
In any case, there is no doubt that Son is the best Asian footballer in the world, and of all time. It is pretty crazy for a domestic Asian player to be seen as better than someone who plays and produces in the best league in the world, but we all know who the number one is, and has been for a long time.
On the note of Son, Ange has said he is "unlikely" to make the game against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round tomorrow night, but he is "confident" he will be available for the Premier League game with Aston Villa this coming weekend.
In 19 games against the Premier League champions, Son has scored eight goals and provided four assists. The only surprising thing about those numbers is that it isn't even higher. It feels like he has scored every single time he has played against Pep Guardiola's side.
That is, other than the most recent meeting, in May of this year - where the 32-year old had a one-on-one saved, a chance that he has scored so many times in his career, including against City, whilst the Spurs were 1-0 down. Soon after, Erling Haaland would score and secure the win. That miss meant that City would win the league, instead of Arsenal. Ah no, what a shame.
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