Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) has finally reached the top of European football. On this day, which shed the long-standing label of being without a trophy, he achieved his first victory as a captain that will remain in Tottenham's history. His tears reflected the weight of 15 years.

On the 22nd (Korea time), Son Heung-min participated as a substitute in the 2024-2025 season UEFA Europa League final held at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, leading Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

Tottenham's decisive moment came in the 42nd minute of the first half when Brennan Johnson's shot deflected off Luke Shaw's foot for an own goal, marking a pivotal scene in the match.

Substituted in during the second half, Son Heung-min blended into the team's tactics with his dedicated movements even after returning from injury, helping to maintain Tottenham's lead until the final whistle. Immediately after the match, he ran around the field draped in the Taegeukgi and embraced his teammates, savoring the joy of his career's first victory that he had waited 15 years for.

Starting his professional career in Hamburg, Germany, in 2010, Son Heung-min moved to Bayer Leverkusen before donning the Tottenham jersey in 2015. Although he spent 10 years at Tottenham and faced several finals in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and the Carabao Cup, he had never lifted a trophy. Therefore, this Europa League victory is not just an achievement; it represents a crucial turning point in Son Heung-min's football life.

The most dazzling scene was the victory ceremony. Son Heung-min became the first Korean captain to lift a trophy in a major European final. After the match, he raised the trophy weighing 15 kg first during the ceremony, and this moment, widely broadcast around the world, remains an iconic snapshot of Son Heung-min rewriting European football history as an Asian player.

Along with the joy of victory, he also bore some injuries. In a video released by Tottenham, Son Heung-min showed the wound on his forehead, laughing as he said, "At the moment I lifted the trophy, someone pushed me, and my forehead hit something." The wound was swollen and scratched, but Son Heung-min appeared to ignore the pain as he shouted joyfully and celebrated the victory.

In fact, right after the championship ceremony, he did not receive a medal. Because of a personnel limit, Son Heung-min was omitted from the order of presentation but later was able to wear the medal.

This victory marked the first club competition trophy that Son Heung-min has secured in his career. While he previously held a gold medal from the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, it was from an age-specific competition that is difficult to evaluate as a major international tournament, making this Europa League win even more significant.

Tottenham also applauded Son Heung-min's leadership. Shortly after the match, the club's official website praised him as "the first Korean captain to lead the team to victory in a European competition," and online fan communities were filled with accolades.

Local British media noted, "Son Heung-min's words were not just expressions of joy but sincere. He has transcended himself to represent the club's history," adding, "That night, he transformed from 'the symbol of the club' to 'the legend of the club.'"

The achievements Son Heung-min has made at Tottenham are countless. He is the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history, has won Goal of the Year, and numerous other titles have been attached to his name as voted by fans. However, he always carried the epithet of being 'trophyless,' which was a heavy burden for him. But now, that shadow has completely vanished.

On this day, Son Heung-min lifted a trophy on the European stage, changing yet another benchmark. He is no longer merely a star player; he is 'the captain' who will remain in history in Europe and a name that represents the spirit of the club. And alongside that name, the word 'trophyless' no longer exists.

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