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Jonathan White

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has been named to the English Premier League team of 2020 to cap off a fine year for the footballer, while the South Korean government announced that his financial effect is worth some US$1.8 billion to the country.
Son was listed in the team made by Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, who picked him ahead of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.
“You cannot criticise Son or Mane, there’s no negative about them,” former Manchester United and England player Neville said on Monday Night Football.
“Every club in the world would want them. Just on goals and assists, Son has done better in a team that isn’t as good,” he continued.

Gary "Every club in the world would want Son or Mane playing for them"
Carra "Son this season has just edged the others"@GNev2 & @Carra23 explain why they chose Son over Sadio Mane in their TOTY pic.twitter.com/v4nLoJp30K
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 21, 2020

Former Liverpool and England defender Carragher agreed: “Son has been off the charts and Mane is going through a tough spell at the moment,” Carragher said.
“Mane and Sterling have been as good as anyone in the world at that position. But Rashford and Son have jumped up now.”
‘I’ve seen better’ – Arsenal legend surprised at Son’s Puskas Award win
It has been a fine year for the South Korea skipper, who won the Puskas Award at The Best Fifa Awards last week, with his effort against Burnley in December 2019 being named the best goal of the last 12 months.
Son completed his mandatory military service in May, even being awarded a medal for his marksmanship.
He has been as deadly on the pitch, becoming the first Asian player to reach 50 goals in the English Premier League and forming a deadly partnership with teammate Harry Kane, who also made the cut for Carragher and Neville,

#FIFAFootballAwards ⚪️ #TheBest pic.twitter.com/ivmI6JgNch
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 17, 2020

Son has scored 11 times in 14 games this season, with Kane assisting him on four goals in one game against Southampton in September, matching his total for last season.
He is now on 99 goals for the club, but his value extends well beyond the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Elsewhere on Monday, the South Korean government announced that the Spurs star is a massive boon to the economy, with his economic ripple worth some 2 trillion won (US$1.8 billion), as reported by the country’s Yonhap News Agency.
Son shrugs off South Korea squad Covid-19 to send Spurs top
“As a result of analysing the economic ripple effect of the Korea Academy of Sports Policy and Science and Son Heung-min, the scale was estimated to reach 1.98885 trillion won,” the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Monday.
The estimate “was analysed by the Korea Institute of Sports Policy and Science based on the Korea Customs Service’s import and export trade statistics, the Bank of Korea’s industry relations table and domestic and foreign surveys,” Yonhap reported.
Aside from retail, exports and production, Yonhap reported on “the intangible value that Son Heung-min induces in Korea, such as inspiring emotion and self-esteem, and motivating youth” which was valued at US$658 million, while advertising was valued at US$16.2 million.

Son’s financial effect is expected to be expanded, according to the ministry: “The player value continues to increase according to Son Heung-min’s performance, and the current estimate is analysed as the minimum value in that it is a player in its heyday. The economic ripple effect is expected to increase further in the future.”
Son was praised by minister Park Yang-woo for winning the Puskas Award and cheering his compatriots as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more great stories on Korean entertainment, artist profiles and the latest news, visit K-post, SCMP's K-pop hub.



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English Premier League

EPL: Tottenham star Son Heung-min named to Sky Sports team of 2020

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring in the Uefa Champions League. Photo: Reuters

This handout photo taken on May 8, 2020 and published on the official Facebook page of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps shows Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-min in military uniform saluting during a basic military training completion ceremony at a marines boot camp in Jeju island. - Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min was named one of the top five recruits in his unit as he finished three weeks of compulsory military training in South Korea on May 8. (Photo by Handout / Republic of Korea Marine Corps / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Republic of Korea Marine Corps" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Son Heung-min: Arsenal legend Martin Keown ‘surprised’ at Spurs star’s Puskas Award win

Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min celebrates after their English Premier League win over Aston Villa in February. Photo: AP

Spurs forward Son Heung-min wins Puskas Award for ‘one of greatest goals’

Spurs’ Son Heung-min on his magical 12-second goalscoring run against Burnley. Photo: Reuters

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 7, 2019 Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrate after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Spurs star Son Heung-min named Korean player of the year

Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min celebrates after beating Manchester City. Photo: Reuters

Fifa Puskas Award: Spurs star Son Heung-min in final for with Burnley solo goal

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min in action before scoring the English Premier League Goal of the Season against Burnley on December 7, 2019. Photo: Reuters

Son Heung-min shrugs off South Korea squad Covid-19 cases to send Spurs top of English Premier League table

Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal against Manchester City in the English Premier League. Photo: AP

Sport

Football


South Korean ministry expects Puskas Award winner’s financial ripple to increase with his performance
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher pick forward over Liverpool’s Sadio Mane in their best 11 of the year



South Korean ministry expects Puskas Award winner’s financial ripple on the country’s economy to increase with his performance.


Uefa Champions League

South Korean celebrities

South Korea

Son Heung-min