Ultimately, Son Heung-min did it. After 17 years of waiting, Tottenham returned to the top of European football, achieving the valuable success of winning the UEFA Europa League. At the center of this was the captain Son Heung-min (32), who has quietly led the team.

Tottenham secured the championship trophy by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League final held at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korean time). In the 42nd minute of the first half, Brennan Johnson's shot deflected off Luke Shaw for an own goal, putting Tottenham ahead, and they maintained that lead to stand at the top of Europe.

This victory was a moment that marked a significant milestone in Tottenham's club history. Having endured 17 years without a title since the League Cup in 2008, Tottenham reclaimed glory by adding their third UEFA Europa League title (1972, 1984, 2025). At the same time, they secured a direct ticket to the next season's UEFA Champions League.

However, it was Son Heung-min who found this trophy particularly special. Starting his professional career in 2010 at Hamburger SV in Germany and moving on to Bayer Leverkusen before donning the Tottenham jersey in 2015, he has been a key player for the team. However, most of the finals he faced to date ended in disappointment. Runner-up in the Premier League, runner-up in the Champions League, and runner-up in the League Cup, he always fell just short at the final hurdle.

The only trophy he had achieved during his professional career was the gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. This UEFA Europa League marks his first major trophy in his club career. Son Heung-min became the second Korean player to win the tournament, including the UEFA Cup. The first was former coach Cha Bum-kun, who achieved this feat twice during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The question of whether Son Heung-min would participate in the final was a major topic locally. Although he showed signs of recovery from injury, manager Ange Postecoglou chose to leave him out of the starting lineup and brought him on in the second half. Son entered as a substitute in the 67th minute; although he did not create any decisive opportunities, he invigorated the team on both offense and defense with his characteristic work rate and dedication. In the final moments of the second half, he attempted a bold shot and also took a free-kick, keeping the team's attacking flow alive.

As the match ended, Son Heung-min was the first to rush off the bench and embrace his teammates. Shortly after, he draped the Taegukgi over his shoulders and slowly walked toward the trophy, lifting the championship cup with both hands. The depth of emotion after a long wait was clearly conveyed through his reddened eyes.

Son Heung-min has spent two seasons as captain of Tottenham. Despite injuries, slumps, and fluctuations within the team, he never lost his place at the center. This victory means more than just a single trophy; it represents Son Heung-min's loyalty, dedication, and the rewards of patience.

SpursWeb stated, "The symbol of this victory is undoubtedly Son Heung-min," adding, "He stayed with Tottenham during its most challenging period and finally received his reward. Along with Harry Kane, he deserves to be immortalized on the club's exterior wall as a mural."

In fact, Tottenham has been producing murals on the exterior walls of the stadium since 2022 to honor its iconic players. The first was a mural of defensive legend Ledley King, and a mural commemorating Harry Kane's club scoring record was later added. Fans and media are naturally designating Son Heung-min as the next subject.

TBR Football reported on the fans' reactions. Claims have emerged that "a statue of Son Heung-min should be erected," along with sentiments such as "form is temporary, but class is permanent," "there's no player more deserving than him," and "Son Heung-min is the best Tottenham player of the Premier League era."

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