Son Heung-min says the biggest reason he has stayed at Tottenham Hotspur for so long is his burning desire to win a trophy with the club. The captain is set to lead Spurs in the Europa League final against Manchester United on Wednesday, 21 May, and he described himself as being driven by “desperate passion.”
Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen, and during his time at the club, he has netted 173 goals, making him the fifth-highest scorer in the club’s history. Despite his individual success, he has endured heartbreak in three previous finals with Spurs, having lost to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final and Manchester City in the 2021 League Cup final. Tottenham’s last major trophy came in 2008, when they lifted the League Cup, and Son is determined to change that.
Reflecting on his long tenure at Spurs, Son said that the opportunity to achieve what others couldn’t is what has kept him at the club. He explained, “The biggest reason I stayed at Tottenham was because I wanted to do something others couldn’t achieve. That’s probably why I’m where I am now.”
Having spent nearly a decade at Spurs, Son has been close to lifting a trophy on several occasions but has yet to take that final step. “You need all the pieces to complete a puzzle,” he said. “I think I’ve gathered all the other pieces to make that puzzle complete. I’ve been missing that one most important, final piece and I’ve been trying to find it for the past 10 years. I really hope I can finally complete the puzzle this time.”
For Son, the Europa League final against Manchester United represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve that long-awaited success. “Every game is special and meaningful. But this game feels like an opportunity that may not come back. It feels different this time,” he admitted. “I really want to win – more than anyone else. So many people are supporting us with the same desperate passion I feel. If we prepare well, I believe we can achieve it.”
Son’s focus on winning this final is also influenced by his close bond with his former Spurs teammate, Harry Kane, who recently secured the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. Kane’s achievement was the first major team trophy of his career, and Son expressed genuine happiness for his friend. “I texted Harry and he called me back on a video call. I was really happy to see him happy. He is one of my best friends and to see a once teammate achieve so much, I was delighted for him like he’s my family. With that positive energy, I hope he can support Spurs in the game as well, so we can achieve a good result like his.”
Son has been recovering from a foot injury that kept him sidelined for a month. He made his return on Sunday in a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute. He worked closely with his personal therapist, Ahn Deok-su, and Tottenham’s medical staff to return “much earlier than expected.” Despite the setback, Son remains optimistic about his fitness and future performances, saying, “I have to say I’m OK because I want our fans, as well as those who support me, to feel at ease while watching the game. So, I will always say that I’m fine. And I will be fine.”
With his passion and commitment to winning, Son Heung-min is ready to make the most of what could be a pivotal moment in his career, hoping to finally end Tottenham’s long wait for silverware.
