Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur)'s English Premier League (EPL) record of scoring double digits for nine consecutive seasons is expected to come to an end this season. Having scored 7 goals, he is not expected to participate in the final match due to the aftermath of a foot injury.
Tottenham will face Brighton & Hove Albion on the 26th at midnight (Korean time) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for the final match of the 2024-2025 EPL Round 38.
Ange Postecoglou, the coach, noted in a pre-match press conference on the 24th regarding Son Heung-min's participation, "His foot injury has not yet healed, so he probably won't be able to play."
Son Heung-min has been sidelined for over a month after injuring his right foot last month. He returned before the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final but is still affected by the injury. He came on as a substitute in the final against Manchester United (Man Utd) instead of starting. Although he did not record any attacking points, he actively contributed to defense, helping the team maintain a 1-0 lead until the end of the match.
Postecoglou mentioned that Son Heung-min approached the final despite not having a fully functional foot, and he would be given rest in the EPL final.
If Son Heung-min does not participate in the final match, he will no longer be able to extend his record. He has scored double digits in the EPL since the 2016-2017 season. This record will stop at '8 seasons.'
He has recorded 7 goals and 10 assists in 30 league matches this season, falling 3 goals short of reaching 10.
Tottenham remained in 17th place until Round 37 of the EPL, recording the worst results in the club's history. Although they can rise to 14th in the final match, a significant change in ranking is unlikely. They have already secured their stay in the league, making the match virtually irrelevant to the standings.
Nevertheless, Tottenham is in a festive mood. They defeated Manchester United in the UEL final, lifting a trophy for the first time in 17 years since winning the League Cup in 2007-2008. Furthermore, they secured a spot in the next season's UEFA Champions League (UCL) allocated to the winning team.
The Tottenham squad has had a hectic schedule around the UEL final. They traveled to Bilbao, Spain, for the final and held a victory celebration party until dawn after the match.
After returning to London, they had another busy day. On May 23, local time, Tottenham held a victory parade with fans to share the joy of their UEL win.
The British media 'Daily Mail' described the parade route as filled with festive atmosphere, stating, "Fans gathered hours before the start, waving flags and setting off blue and white smoke bombs while climbing traffic lights and street lamps." About 150,000 fans gathered.
Players wore shirts with the number 25 and traveled for 2 hours by bus. At 7:30 p.m. local time, the bus arrived at the stadium, and the players climbed onto the stage and sang the anthem "When the Spurs Go Marching In" with the fans.
Son Heung-min said, "It’s been 10 years since I joined Tottenham. The fans have been with me from the beginning to now," adding, "These two days passed too quickly. It was nothing but joy and happiness. I waited for this moment over and over again. I’m glad it happened while wearing the Tottenham uniform. No one has done it for 17 years, but our team did it. I’m proud. It’s a great fortune that this happened while I was captain. I can't express it all in words."
The victory holds special significance for Son Heung-min. Although he was absent from the starting lineup against Manchester United due to the foot injury sustained last month, he came on as a substitute in the second half to help maintain the team's 1-0 lead. Having debuted professionally in the German Bundesliga with Hamburger in 2010, he lifted a trophy for the first time in 10 years after joining Tottenham in 2015.
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