It’s Son worship at whole new level
Spurs’ Korean star given a rapturous welcome home
SON HEUNG-MIN has brought his team to South Korea before, returning to play in the colours of Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, but this week he admits has been something else.
‘Incredible,’ marvelled Son. ‘The fans, the love. We are feeling the love. With Spurs, I think it is more special because the fans are more interested in our football and the big players.’
Tottenham are huge in the land of Son, a bone fide global icon and commercial phenomenon, acknowledged as one of the finest footballers in the Premier League, a Champions League regular and finalist in 2019, an Asian Games gold medallist and, crucially it seems, now a Golden Boot winner.
‘Asian football fans never imagined a player from Asia could be top scorer in the Premier League,’ explained Lee Young-pyo, who made almost 100 appearances for Spurs in three years from 2005.
‘He scores 15 to 18 goals in most years but we never expected he would become top scorer. We are very proud of him because they are comparing him to Mo Salah.
‘He improved himself into one of the top players in the world, it’s amazing.’
Beyond his achievements on the pitch, Son has also founded and funds the Son Football Academy in his hometown, Chuncheon, about 50 miles north-east of the capital. His father and brother coach young talent at the academy.
The upshot is that Sonnymania is running wild. ‘Son 7’ Spurs shirts are everywhere except in the shops because they sell so fast and South Korea has become Tottenham’s second biggest e-commerce market, behind only the UK.
They have mailed 4,800 home shirts to South Korea in the last six weeks, helped by a special rate on postage. On a match day in north London, Spurs sell up to 700 ‘Son 7’ shirts.
Forty-four thousand tickets for yesterday’s friendly in Suwon against Sevilla sold out in 20 minutes. The first game, against Team K League in Seoul, drew a crowd of more than 64,000 and was streamed by two million on the Coupang platform, making it the largest streaming audience recorded for a single sporting event in South Korea.
‘I know David Beckham was an icon in English football because I lived there at the time,’ said 45-year-old Lee. ‘Sonny is even more idolised in Korea. All Korean media are talking about Tottenham. Only good things. They are bigger than Manchester United over here.’ Twelve million Koreans cite Tottenham as their favourite team, close to one in four in a nation of just under 52 million. K-Pop stars have descended upon the team hotel in hope of an audience and a selfie with Son and a crowd has stood vigil outside the lobby all week.
Lucas Moura discovered he is forever in Korean hearts as the creator of Son’s 23rd goal of last season, at Norwich on the final day, the goal that moved him level with Salah.
‘I had it in my mind to help him because he deserves only great things in life,’ said Moura. ‘He’s a great human being, a great person and after that he’s a great player, one of the best I’ve played with.’
When Antonio Conte started with Son on the bench in the first game, there were questions to answer. ‘The people came to see Son,’ Conte was informed. On the back foot, he rambled an explanation about players at different stages in their pre-season fitness work.
Son came on to score twice in Seoul. The first was a penalty, which Harry Kane, the usual penalty-taker, insisted he took. ‘I didn’t want to take it to be honest, but Harry is such a nice guy,’ said Son. ‘He knows what it means for me to play in this country. Harry has always been a great, great partner on and off the pitch.’
Kane is also among the goals, and cutting a happier figure than at this time last year when his focus was on a move away from Tottenham, and his season started poorly.
‘He didn’t score at the start of the season but how many goals did he finish with?’ said Son. The answer is 27 across all competitions.
‘We don’t have to worry about him scoring goals because he is, for me, the best partner, a hard-working, unselfish player and the best striker in the world, still.’
The arrival of Richarlison, in a transfer worth up to a club-record £60million, will add another dimension to Tottenham’s attacking unit.
‘Competition is always good,’ said Son. ‘You improve yourself and also your team-mates. We can rotate or we can have a different style of football. Adding players like Richy is incredible. I’ve been with him only four days but he’s become like a really close friend. It is fantastic to play with him.’
A typical Son assessment, overflowing with optimism. ‘He’s a bit like me,’ said Moura of Son. ‘He’s happy every day. He’s smiling. We can see he loves the game. He gives his all and I love him because of this. He’s like a Brazilian.’
Son welcomed players and staff to South Korea with personal gifts, including T-shirts. Chairman Daniel Levy has been spotted wearing his around the hotel. Son also paid the bill when he took his team-mates out for a night of traditional Korean barbecue.
It is all part of his popular appeal. Little wonder the Son worshippers are out in force.
23 Son Heung-min netted 23 goals for Tottenham in the Premier League last season — making him the division’s top scorer alongside Liverpool’s Mo Salah