Son Heung-min's Greatest Moments in Five Years at Spurs
By Mitch Wilks
Son Heung-min celebrated his fifth anniversary at Spurs in trademark fashion, bagging a goal for his side in a friendly as Spurs dispatched Reading in a 4-1 win.
After a slightly bumpy start to life in London, where the Korean had all the raw talent, but found himself in and out of the team, Son has transformed into one of the Premier League's best players, and arguably Spurs' most talented. Yes, even more so than Harry Kane.
The 28-year-old has taken it up to a different level since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He's developed into a lethal striker with a deadly range of finishing on both feet, blistering pace and tidy footwork that allows him to glide past defenders on long, slaloming runs.
His 85 goals and 47 assists from 229 games in a Spurs shirt have seen him become a cult hero among fans of the club - and even a secret favourite of Premier League fans in general. He's a lethal weapon for Spurs on the pitch, and also one of the nicest guys in football at the same time.
Son is a joy to watch (expect when he's playing your favourite team) and he's had some incredible moments in the Tottenham shirt over the years.
1. First Goal(s) For Spurs (2015)
Son opened his account for the Lilywhites in their opening match in the 2015/16 Europa League, hitting a tidy brace against Qarabag FK.
The brace came on his home debut for Spurs and won his side the game, after initially falling 1-0 down. Not a bad way to introduce yourself, that.
2. First Premier League Strike (2015)
Son followed up his first two goals for the club by hitting another just three days later, scoring the only goal in Tottenham's 1-0 win against Crystal Palace.
Showing just a glimpse of what fans were to expect over the coming seasons, Son dribbled into the box surrounded by Palace defenders and rifled home hard and low to beat the keeper.
3. Backheel Winner (2015)
The Korean striker treated Spurs fans to a late Christmas present with this incredible effort, once again putting his sublime game-reading and anticipation on display.
Spurs were drawing 1-1 away to Watford, before Son popped up with an expertly timed backheel finish, giving his side a last-gasp winner away from home.
4. Fightback Performance (2016)
After not quite managing to cement himself into the first-team picture during his first season, head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Son had asked to leave Spurs, but stayed and was given another chance to stake his claim.
He answered the critics in fine fashion at the start of the 2016/17 season, running riot against Stoke in September. Son bagged a brace and assisted another, as his side wound up 4-0 winners away from home.
5. Hat-trick Hero (2017)
At this point, Son was regularly starting to show why he was worth the £22m Spurs paid for him in 2015, which now looks like an absolute bargain.
In a 6-0 thrashing of Millwall in the FA Cup, Son scored his first hat-trick for the club. The first was a scorcher that flew into the far corner, the second was an assured, poacher's finish from a long ball over the top and the third was hit hard at the keeper, forcing a mistake.
6. European Excellence (2017)
Son proved his worth on the European stage for Spurs, bagging an early opener against Borussia Dortmund from what seemed an impossible angle.
It was vital in giving his side an early lead and once again showed just how deadly the Korean is from a number of ranges and on either side. Spurs wound up 3-1 winners against a star-studded Dortmund side.
7. Derby Day Screamer (2018)
They don't come much better than this.
With Spurs trailing in their derby against West Ham with little over five minutes to go, Son rescued a point for his side in supreme fashion. Picking the pall up a million light years away from goal (roughly), the Korean absolutely smashed the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 1-1.
Keeper had no chance. That's one for the YouTube compilations.
8. Solo Stunner (2018)
'Solo stunner' sort of sounds like 'Stone Cold Stunner', but unfortunately Son wasn't up to that.
With Spurs 2-1 up at home against Chelsea, Son secured the points for his side from absolutely nothing. He picks the ball up on the right flank, weaves past Jorginho and sends David Luiz to the shops, before slotting the ball home to make it three.
If only he'd have celebrated in 'Stone Cold' style with some aptly-timed beer cans from the crowd...
9. Quarter-Final Screamer (2019)
He doesn't really do bad goals, does he?
In an incredible evening for Tottenham, Son contributed to an emphatic quarter-final victory to knock Manchester City out of the Champions League on aggregate in the second leg.
After nullifying an early City goal, Son grabbed his second of the night to put Spurs ahead at the Etihad, and in fine fashion. He received the ball on the edge of the box from Christian Eriksen, and effortlessly curled it into the far corner with his right foot.
Spurs lost on the night, but that quarter-final win and Son's efforts took them to the club's first ever Champions League final that year.