Achievements and Milestones of Son Heung-min in the 2023-2024 Season

1. Introduction

• This report details the significant accomplishments and records broken by Son Heung-min during the 2023-2024 English Premier League (EPL) season, highlighting his leadership and impact on Tottenham Hotspur.

2. Overview of Son Heung-min’s 2023-2024 Season

• 2-1. Leadership and captaincy of Son Heung-min

• Son Heung-min was appointed as the captain of Tottenham Hotspur for the 2023-2024 season. This decision came after the departure of key players like Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris. Under the new leadership of coach Ange Postecoglou, Son Heung-min stepped up to lead both on and off the field. During this season, he showed exemplary leadership qualities and played a pivotal role in guiding Tottenham through a period of significant transition.

• 2-2. Team performance and final standings

• Tottenham Hotspur finished the 2023-2024 season in 5th place in the English Premier League, securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the next season. They concluded their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United in the final match, maintaining a three-point lead over Chelsea, who finished in 6th place. The team saw significant changes with the arrival of new players such as James Maddison and the departure of long-time members, yet still managed to maintain a competitive edge under the new management style introduced by coach Ange Postecoglou.

3. Key Performance Statistics

• 3-1. Goals and Assists Records

• Son Heung-min ended the 2023-2024 season with remarkable statistics in goals and assists. He played 35 league matches, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists. This achievement placed him 8th in overall league goals and tied for 3rd in assists. Notably, within Tottenham Hotspur, he was the top scorer and the top player in assists. His performance in this season marks the third time in his career he has achieved a '10 goals-10 assists' record, previously accomplishing this in the 2019-2020 season (11 goals, 10 assists) and the 2020-2021 season (17 goals, 10 assists). This makes him the first Asian player to record three such seasons, joining the ranks of other EPL legends like Wayne Rooney and Mohamed Salah.

• 3-2. Appearance and Playing Time

• During the 2023-2024 EPL season, Son Heung-min appeared in a total of 35 matches, accumulating 2,946 minutes of playing time. This made him one of the most utilized players in the team, ranking just behind goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario (3,420 minutes) and defender Pedro Porro (3,092 minutes). His extensive playtime showcases his crucial role and resilience on the field despite being occasionally positioned out of his usual left-wing spot following Harry Kane's departure at the start of the season.

• 3-3. Contribution in Critical Matches

• Son Heung-min demonstrated his value in critical matches throughout the season. For instance, during the final EPL match against Sheffield United, he provided an assist for Dejan Kulusevski's goal, marking his 10th assist of the season. His contributions were pivotal in securing Tottenham's 5th place finish in the league and securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the next season. Additionally, Son played a key role in several vital matches, often being the central figure in offensive plays and helping the team navigate through challenging fixtures.

4. Historical Records and Achievements

• 4-1. First Asian player to achieve EPL ‘10 goals-10 assists’ thrice

• Son Heung-min has made history by becoming the first Asian player to achieve the '10 goals-10 assists' record in the English Premier League (EPL) three times. During the 2023-2024 season, Son recorded 17 goals and 10 assists. This accomplishment was previously achieved by notable players such as Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Mohamed Salah. Son Heung-min's previous '10-10' seasons were in 2019-2020 (11 goals, 10 assists) and 2020-2021 (17 goals, 10 assists).

• 4-2. Breaking club records at Tottenham Hotspur

• Throughout the 2023-2024 season, Son Heung-min broke multiple records at Tottenham Hotspur. He scored his 160th goal for the club, surpassing Cliff Jones to become the fifth all-time top scorer for Tottenham. Additionally, Son became the first non-European player to make over 400 appearances for the club. He also reached a significant milestone by appearing in over 300 EPL matches for Tottenham.

• 4-3. Reaching significant EPL historical milestone

• Son Heung-min reached several significant milestones in the EPL during the 2023-2024 season. Apart from being the first Asian player to record three ‘10 goals-10 assists’ seasons, he consistently contributed to Tottenham's success. He helped the team secure a 3-0 victory against Sheffield United in the final match of the season, confirming their fifth-place finish and qualification for the next season's UEFA Europa League. Son's leadership and performance were pivotal throughout the season as he took on the role of captain, leading both on and off the field.

5. Contribution to Team Success

• 5-1. UEFA Europa League Qualification

• During the 2023-2024 season, Tottenham Hotspur, under the leadership of Son Heung-min, secured a 5th place finish in the English Premier League. This placement allowed them to qualify for the UEFA Europa League next season. The critical victory occurred on May 20, 2024, when Tottenham triumphed over Sheffield United with a decisive 3-0 win. This win maintained their 3-point lead over Chelsea, ensuring their spot for the Europa League.

• 5-2. Adaptability and Position Changes

• Son Heung-min demonstrated remarkable adaptability throughout the season, which was marked by significant changes within the team. With the departure of key players like Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, Son stepped up as a central figure under the new management of Ange Postecoglou. Initially playing from his usual position on the left wing, Son was moved to the central forward role to address the team's immediate needs. Despite the challenges associated with this positional change, Son continued to excel, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in the league.

• 5-3. Impact in Both Offensive and Defensive Roles

• Son Heung-min's impact was felt on both ends of the pitch. Offensively, he finished the season as Tottenham’s top scorer and assist provider, placing 8th overall in league goals and joint 3rd in assists. In terms of playtime, he was one of the most utilized outfield players, clocking 2,946 minutes across 35 league matches. Defensively, Son was equally significant, contributing to the team's collective effort in various defensive roles when needed. His leadership and versatility were instrumental in the team's overall success, highlighted by his numerous on-field contributions and record-setting performances.

6. Glossary

• 6-1. Son Heung-min [Player]

• Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Known for his leadership qualities and scoring abilities, he became the first Asian player to achieve ’10 goals-10 assists’ in a season three times in the EPL, further cementing his place in the league and club history.

• 6-2. Tottenham Hotspur [Football Club]

• Tottenham Hotspur is an English professional football club based in North London. In the 2023-2024 season, the club secured a 5th place finish in the EPL and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. Son Heung-min's leadership and performance were crucial in achieving these accomplishments.

7. Conclusion

• Son Heung-min's performance during the 2023-2024 season has been commendable, marked by his leadership, significant contributions, and record-breaking achievements, demonstrating his integral role at Tottenham Hotspur and in the EPL.

8. Source Documents

• 토트넘 레전드길 걷는 손흥민의 9번째 시즌도 마무리, 주장 선임부터 팀 내 최다 득점·도움, 각종 기록 달성까지https://v.daum.net/v/20240520081003970
• 손흥민, EPL 최종전서 3번째 ‘10골-10도움’ 달성…아시아 최초https://v.daum.net/v/20240520080702890
• 손흥민, ‘역대급 대기록’ 눈앞에 두고 있다... 유럽 통산 99도움 달성→100도움까지 단 1개 남았다https://v.daum.net/v/20240521083510509