Personal controversy, family risks, injuries, and waiting on the bench. Overcoming numerous adversities, Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) finally lifted the championship trophy.
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League held at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korean time), securing their victory.
With this, Tottenham escaped from a 17-year trophy drought, and Son Heung-min claimed a major trophy with his club for the first time in his 15-year professional career.
On that day, Son Heung-min started on the bench but came on in the 67th minute, contributing to both defense and offense with his active movements, and raised the trophy wrapped in the Korean flag after the final whistle, standing at the highest point as Tottenham's 'captain.'
Behind this glory were months that were more challenging than anyone could imagine.
Son Heung-min was recently caught up in a blackmail case related to his personal life. His ex-girlfriend, referred to as A, and accomplice B, demanded hundreds of millions of won from Son Heung-min, claiming she was 'pregnant.' They were eventually arrested by the police. According to the police investigation, A underwent an abortion after actually becoming pregnant, but it was not confirmed whether Son Heung-min was the biological father. Son Heung-min could not avoid damage to his image.
In addition, the 'SON Football Academy' run by his father, Son Woong-jung, the head coach, and his older brother, Son Heung-yun, the assistant coach, faced legal penalties and sanctions from sports organizations due to allegations of child abuse. Coach Son was fined for violating the Child Welfare Act and ordered to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs, while receiving a three-month suspension from the Fair Sports Committee. Assistant coach Son Heung-yun received a six-month suspension. For Son Heung-min, it was truly a 'period of trial' with his entire family under scrutiny.
Despite all this, Son Heung-min kept the team resilient and, as the captain, united the team to the end. After missing games at the end of the season due to injuries, he returned to boost his condition and accepted the decision to start on the bench in the final match without complaint.
And finally, Son Heung-min lifted the trophy draped in the Korean flag. UEFA stated after the match, "Son Heung-min turned back toward the stands and performed a solo celebration, receiving a warm applause from the fans. The player most deserving of this moment was indeed this Korean striker."
Son Heung-min overcame everything, and he finally wrote the ending of his victory with his own hands.
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