With this announcement, Son becomes not only the first Asian captain in the Premier League but also the first Asian captain in any of the top five football leagues in Europe.
With the recent departures of former captain Hugo Lloris and vice-captain Harry Kane, the spot for the team captain was vacant at the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Fans cheered as the news broke that the position had been filled by the captain of the Korean National team, Son Heung-min. Son is a veteran of the club, having first joined in 2015, and is widely considered one of the best players in the world. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022 for scoring the most goals in the year. He also led South Korea to a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games and a recent berth into the round of 16 in the World Cup, an achievement that many Koreans hold dear to their hearts.
It’s no secret that the 31-year-old Son is one of the most famous and beloved celebrities in South Korea. In the streets of Seoul, it is hard to walk two blocks without seeing Son’s face promoting everything from coffee to sneakers to high-end watches. While he is a cultural icon in South Korea, football fans all over the world are celebrating the news of Son being named Captain.
With this announcement, Son becomes not only the first Asian captain in the Premier League but also the first Asian captain in any of the top five football leagues in Europe.
In an official statement from Spurs, Son said: “It’s such a great honor to captain this esteemed club. It was a big surprise and a very proud moment. I’ve already told the players that everyone should feel like a captain, both on and off the pitch. It’s a new season, a fresh start, and I will give my all for this shirt and this armband.”
In addition, Head Coach Ange Postecoglou added, “Sonny has exceptional leadership qualities, both on and off the pitch, and is the ideal choice to become our new captain. He transcends different groups within the squad. This isn’t just because he’s popular – it’s because of what he has achieved in the game, both here and as the captain of South Korea.”
