Son Heung-min will leave Spurs with a bigger legacy than Harry Kane

The news discusses Son Heung-min's legacy at Tottenham Hotspur, positioning him as arguably the club's greatest player of the 21st century despite acknowledging talents like Harry Kane, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modric. Gareth Bale emphatically declared Son a legend during a post-match interview.

Son's statistical achievements are highlighted: he is Tottenham's highest-scoring foreign player ever, with 173 goals placing him fifth on the club's all-time list. Only Harry Kane has scored more Premier League and European goals for Spurs, and Son notably won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2022-23 season without scoring a single penalty.

However, the article emphasizes that fans' affection for Son transcends his goalscoring prowess. His immense loyalty is considered equally, if not more, important. This loyalty was tested early on when, after a difficult first season following his £23m move from Bayer Leverkusen, Son considered leaving but was persuaded to stay by then-manager Mauricio Pochettino. He has since made 454 appearances for Spurs, the most by any non-British or Irish player and seventh overall. Having joined at 23, he has spent a decade and his prime years in North London.

The piece underscores his commitment during a turbulent period in 2021. Following a disappointing seventh-place finish, a chaotic managerial search ending with Nuno Espirito Santo, Harry Kane's desire to leave, and the European Super League controversy, Spurs were in disarray. Son, then 29, had just finished a season with 17 goals and 10 assists and was entering the final two years of his contract. At his peak and holding significant leverage (Spurs would risk losing him for free if he didn't extend), he chose to commit to the club, signing a two-year extension with an option for a further year.