Tottenham’s Son Heung-min Endures the Toughest Phase of His Career

Son Heung-min, often associated with the joyful spirit of Korean football, is currently going through one of the most challenging periods of his career. Among fans, concerns are mounting that Son may be enduring the "worst time" of his football journey.

As the English Premier League (EPL) moves into its latter half, fears are rising that Tottenham Hotspur, Son's team, could face a relegation battle. Having joined the club in 2015, Son is now in his 10th year at Tottenham, and this season marks the toughest chapter yet. The "happiness football" he once enjoyed seems like a distant memory.

Since Son’s arrival, Tottenham has consistently ranked in the league's upper echelons, with their lowest finish being 8th place in the 2022-23 season. However, this season has seen a sharp decline. After 22 matches, Tottenham is languishing in 15th place, just one spot above West Ham (14th) and a mere 8 points clear of Ipswich in the relegation zone (18th with 16 points). Such dire circumstances are unprecedented in Son’s time at the club.

Son played the full match during Tottenham’s third consecutive league loss but could not prevent the streak from continuing.

On January 19 (local time), Tottenham faced Everton at Goodison Park in a 22nd-round match of the 2024-2025 EPL season and suffered a 3-2 defeat. Conceding three goals in the first half alone, Tottenham was left trailing and failed to recover.

This loss extended Tottenham’s winless streak in the league to six games (1 draw, 5 losses). Their last victory came over a month ago on December 16, when they defeated Southampton 5-0. Since then, the team has struggled to deliver any good news to their fans.

Son’s lack of impact in the match against Everton drew criticism from local media. Despite starting as a forward and playing until the final whistle, Son failed to leave a significant mark. His performance included two shots, with one missed scoring opportunity in the 24th minute of the first half. However, he failed to register a goal or assist.

Football London gave Son a match rating of 4 out of 10, with only center-back Radu Drăgușin—blamed for conceding three first-half goals—receiving a lower score of 3.

The outlet harshly reviewed Son’s performance, stating:

"Son had two early chances. Once, he hesitated inside the penalty box, and another shot was aimed low but directly at Everton’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Beyond that, he contributed little to the game."

Local football fans also expressed their disappointment in Son’s recent form, sharing critical remarks online.

Meanwhile, as Tottenham’s struggles deepen, reports have emerged regarding the potential dismissal of manager Ange Postecoglou. According to local media, the club may have to pay a hefty severance fee if they choose to part ways with the coach.

Football London reported on January 20 (KST) that should Tottenham terminate Postecoglou’s contract, they would owe him £12 million (approximately 21.3 billion KRW) in compensation. Postecoglou took the reins ahead of the 2023-24 season on a four-year deal, having completed only 18 months so far.

If Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy decides to dismiss Postecoglou midway through his contract, the club would face substantial financial consequences due to the manager’s salary and the contract’s remaining term.