"Son Heung-min is now a more powerful Tottenham legend than Kane, Bale, and Modric."

Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season held at San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korea time). After taking the lead with an own goal by the opponent in the 42nd minute of the first half, they held on to win and rose to the top of European competitions.

This victory was a significant moment in the history of the Tottenham club. After 17 years without silverware since the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season, Tottenham ended a long period of drought and achieved their third UEFA Europa League title (1971-72, 1983-84, 2024-25) on the European stage. At the same time, they secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the next season.

The match was also of special significance for Son Heung-min. He began his professional career at Hamburg SV in Germany in 2010, joined Bayer Leverkusen, and then joined Tottenham in 2015, consistently playing as a key forward for the team. However, he had finished as a runner-up in numerous significant competitions. From second place in the Premier League (2016-17) to the UCL runner-up (2018-19) and the League Cup runner-up (2020-21), he faced many challenges, but the final step always left a lingering disappointment.

His only winning record was the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang. This UEFA Europa League victory is the first trophy Son Heung-min has lifted in his club career and makes him the second Korean player to win the title, including during the UEFA Cup era. Former coach Cha Bum-kun previously won the UEFA Cup in 1980 and 1988 while playing for Frankfurt.

Ahead of the final, there was significant interest in whether Son Heung-min would play. He had been recovering from a recent foot injury and checked his condition through matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, but ultimately, head coach Ange Postecoglou decided to bench Son Heung-min.

In the 67th minute, Son Heung-min stepped onto the field, replacing Richarlison. Although he did not register any direct contributions to the score, his signature agile movements and proactive dedication brought energy to the team. In the 81st minute, he attempted a shot in a counterattack but was blocked by the opposing defense, and in the 84th minute, he took a free-kick, participating in the attacking flow.

After taking the lead with an own goal, Tottenham defended against the onslaught from Manchester United and maintained their lead until the final whistle. When the match ended, Son Heung-min rushed off the bench to embrace his teammates and share the joy of victory. He then draped the Korean flag over his shoulders and slowly walked up to the trophy, lifting it with both hands.

Son Heung-min's eyes were filled with emotion. After two years as the team's captain, enduring injuries and the team's struggles, this victory represented more than just a trophy for him. He showcased his role as a leader representing the team on the field.

SpursWeb noted, "Behind Tottenham's glorious moment of lifting a trophy after 17 years is Son Heung-min. He has dedicated himself to the team more than anyone else, and alongside Harry Kane, he deserves to be immortalized in a mural."

Tottenham has been creating murals on the exterior of the club to honor the achievements of iconic players over the years. This started with legendary defender Ledley King in 2022. In 2023, a mural was added to commemorate Harry Kane’s all-time goal record for the club. Amid this trend, the sentiment that it is now Son Heung-min's turn is growing stronger.

SpursWeb emphasized, "Many stars have passed through Tottenham, but the only player who directly led the team to victory is Son Heung-min. Even though there were certainly opportunities to go to bigger stages, he chose to stay with the team, and ultimately that choice was rewarded with a trophy on the European stage."

It also stated, "Son Heung-min is the most iconic figure and should be commemorated alongside Kane on the wall."

Daily Mail’s Riyad Al Samarai expressed on the 24th, "This is the moment Son Heung-min finally found peace."

He said, "In August 2019, I sat down with Son Heung-min and talked to him. The defeat in the UCL final against Liverpool two months earlier still weighed heavily on his heart," noting that "he described it as pain. Now he has finally experienced victory, and while he may not completely forget the pain of the past, he has at least found peace, even if just for a moment."

Al Samarai emphasized that Son Heung-min's trophy holds more significance than just a record. He said, "In the past 17 years, Tottenham has had numerous stars, but most of them only shone after leaving the club."

Al Samarai stated, "Bale was not on the final roster during the League Cup victory, and his talents flourished at Real Madrid and for the Wales national team. Harry Kane was a great scorer but did not lift any trophies, and Modric also left Tottenham without winning after four years. All of them are representative players of modern football, but true success only came after they left Tottenham. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min remained and ultimately got results. Son Heung-min is now a more powerful Tottenham legend than Kane, Bale, and Modric. This is what makes him unique."

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