Son Heung-min’s ‘roller coaster’ year at Spurs could end with English Premier League goal of the season

Spurs’ South Korean star Son Heung-min has told the club’s official website of his “roller coaster” season, which saw him complete his national service back home amid the coronavirus-disrupted campaign and could end with him winning English Premier League Goal of the Season.

“It was like a roller coaster … good, not so good, stopped, injury, being in the army, add everything together and it was a long season,” the 28-year-old said.

“The results … it was important to get into the Europa League, but it’s been a tough year,” Son said.

“We have to be positive. It’s up to us. We will need the supporters’ help, but it’s up to us on the pitch, we’re playing football, not them. They will support us, and we have to give something back.

“I’m going to learn again from so many things from last season, and try to improve next season as well.”

While the team, who were losing finalists in the Uefa Champions League under Mauricio Pochettino last year, finished sixth in the league table, Son continued to impress.

Once again Son swept the board at the club’s awards being given the One Hotspur Player of the Season, One Hotspur Junior Player of the Season and our Official Supporters’ Clubs’ Player of the Season awards, just as he did in 2018.

In December, Son was named the AFC Asian International Player of the Year for a third time and then celebrated by scoring a stunning solo goal against Burnley. That goal won the BBC Match of the Day goal of the season and is shortlisted for the English Premier League’s Goal of the Season.

New manager Jose Mourinho, who replaced Pochettino in November, also revealed that the forward’s nickname is “Sonaldo” after comparing the Burnley goal to one scored by the Brazilian Ronaldo for Barcelona against Compostela.

Son, who won the Spurs Goal of the Season in 2018-19, was also given an award for finishing in the top five for performance of new recruits and a perfect record shooting a rifle during his three weeks in the military.

The sharpshooter will have to fend off competition from fellow AFC player Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the public vote, which ends on Monday August 10.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Iranian international is nominated for his overhead kick against Chelsea on New Year’s Day that earned his side a 1-1 draw against the Blues.