Since joining Tottenham in the English Premier League (EPL) in 2015, Son Heung-min (31, pictured) hasn’t forgotten the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League (UCL). Tottenham, a club with a long and storied history dating back to 1882, had been a mid-table team for most of its existence, but under Mauricio Pochettino, the club was recognized as a European powerhouse after a surprise run to the UCL final that year. Son scored three goals in the first leg of the quarterfinals against eventual champions Manchester City (England), catapulting him to world stardom. He went on to win the 2020 FIFA Pushkasi Award and become the first Asian to score in the EPL in the 2021-2022 season. But many of his teammates have since left Tottenham, with Son the only remaining member of the UCL runners-up.
Now the most senior member of the squad, Son will wear the captain’s armband for the 2023-2024 season. He will be the “captain” of the big clubs in the EPL’s “Big 6”. Tottenham announced on their website on the 12th, “Son Heung-min has been appointed as the club captain. He takes over the armband from Hugo Llorez,” the club said on its website. Christian Romero and James Maddison will assist Son as vice-captains.
Prior to Son, the first South Korean to be named an official captain in the EPL was Jeonbuk Hyundai’s technical director Park Ji-sung, who previously held the position when he moved from Manchester United to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in 2012.
Initially, the Tottenham captaincy was held by French international goalkeeper Yoris from the 2015-2016 season, but he left the club when it became clear that he would be parting ways with the club. The captain’s armband was handed over to Son Heung-min after “superstar striker” Harry Kane (England), the next captain, left for German giants Bayern Munich with a thirst for trophies.
“It’s an honor to be captain of a big team like Tottenham. “I’ve already said that every player should feel like a captain on and off the pitch. I will give my all for this shirt and this armband in the new season.”
Head coach Enzi Postecoglu added: “Son Heung-min has great leadership qualities on and off the field. He is the ideal choice for our new captain,” said Head Coach Angie Postecoglou. “He has the respect of everyone in the locker room, and not just because he is famous. We looked at what he has accomplished here in addition to being the captain of South Korea.” 꽁머니지급
Kane, who formed the “Son-Ke duo” with Son Heung-min in the EPL for eight years, scoring 47 goals together, switched to a Munich jersey with “monster defender” Kim Min-jae on the same day. Kim and Kane made their first official appearance as substitutes in the second half of the 2023 German Football League (DFL) Super Cup match against RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 13, but lost 0-3.
Meanwhile, “soccer genius” Lee Kang-in, 22, made his official debut in a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) jersey in French professional soccer. Lee started the opening Ligue 1 match of the 2023-2024 season against Lorient and played until the 37th minute. While he didn’t create any offensive points, he showed his trademark sharp