‘Let’s say I am a legend’: Spurs star’s joy as decade of loyalty rewarded with Europa crown

No Tottenham player deserved to win the Europa League more than their captain Son Heung-min.

The South Korean star, who joined Spurs a decade ago and is fifth all-time for goals scored for the club, has watched teammate after teammate leave and achieve success elsewhere.

In fact, when arguably Tottenham’s greatest ever goal scorer Harry Kane and fellow former Spur Eric Dier lifted the Bundesliga trophy with Bayern Munich earlier this month, 67 former Spurs had left the club and tasted silverware during their 17-year drought brought which was broken when they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao.

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Having joined Tottenham from German side Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son has played with more than half of those 67.

It is little wonder he shed tears of joy after the final whistle and said he was the “happiest man in the world”.

“Wow, an feeling amazing!” Son told TNT Sports.

“Today is the day the dream came true. Happiest man in the world to be honest.”

The 32-year-old stayed loyal when others walked.

The best example of which was Kane.

The England captain departed for Munich prior to Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge to chase a trophy after more than a decade of disappointment.

It split up one of the Premier’s League most deadly attacking duos, but it did not ruin their friendship.

In his pre-final press conference, Son said Kane was his “best friend” and earlier this month, he revealed that Kane video called him with the Bundesliga trophy immediately after Son sent him a congratulatory text.

Kane’s breakthrough simply spurred Son on more, as well as the heart break he had experienced over the course of a decade.

“My philosophy has always been to choose the hard road and to chase paths no one else has taken,” Son told South Korean television news outlet SPOTV News post-match.

“That’s what I strive for the most.”

The 2021-22 Premier League golden boot winner continually scored goals and racked up individual accolades, including FIFA’s Puskas Award for goal of the year for a stunning box-to-box run against Burnley in 2019, but was on the losing side in the 2019 Champions League final and the 2021 League Cup final.

He even came up short for South Korea in the 2015 Asian Cup, ironically at the hands of Postecoglou’s Socceroos, but won the Asian Games in 2018.

Throughout he remained unwaveringly dedicated to his belief that he could win a trophy with Tottenham.

Although, he felt the pressure.

The weight of history was added to by his push to return from a foot injury in time for the final.

He started and played 74 minutes in Tottenham’s 2-0 loss at Aston Villa on Friday to prove his fitness, but Postecoglou still decided to bring Son off the bench.

Centre back Cristian Romero took the captain’s arm band instead, but Son was introduced for Richarlison in the 67th minute.

It meant Spurs’ skipper was on the pitch at the final whistle to cement his legacy with the club.

When asked post-match if the win made him a Tottenham legend, Son tried to down play the notion.

“Let’s say I’m a legend. Why not? Only today!” he said with a laugh.

“17 years nobody has done it, so today let’s say with amazing players probably a legend of the club.

“This is what I’ve always dreamed for. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world.

“When you look at the whole season there will always be some situation you have a tough time but we as players always stuck together.

“I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly. The last seven days I was dreaming about this game every night. It finally happened and I can sleep easy now!

“We can celebrate today so let’s just make it one we will never forget and maybe I will miss the flight tomorrow.”

Just as Australians woke up early in their droves to watch Postecoglou’s massive moment, Koreans set their alarms to watch their hero accomplish his dream.

Son is revered in his homeland, and was extremely appreciative of all the support he has received as he draped himself in the South Korean flag as the Tottenham players celebrated with fans in the stands.

“I’m very proud to be Korean. I want to saw thank you to the Korean fans,” he said.

“It was 4am (kick-off) there and they are supporting me like crazy.”