Career Timeline of Son Heung-min: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Son Heung-min made an impact.
Son Heung-min is a highly regarded South Korean professional footballer renowned for his exceptional skill as a forward. He captains both Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and the South Korean national team. Celebrated as one of the best wingers globally and one of the greatest Asian footballers ever, Son is known for his impressive speed, clinical finishing ability with both feet, and adeptness at connecting plays.
August 2008: Joined Hamburger SV's youth academy
In August 2008, Son Heung-min dropped out of Dongbuk High School's football club and joined Hamburger SV's youth academy at age 16.
October 2010: First League Goal for Hamburg
On 30 October 2010, Son Heung-min scored his first league goal for Hamburg against 1. FC Köln, becoming the youngest Hamburg player to score a goal in the Bundesliga at 18.
December 2010: Named in South Korea's Squad for 2011 AFC Asian Cup
On 24 December 2010, Son was named in South Korea national team's squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, making his debut for the national team in a pre-tournament friendly against Syria on 30 December.
2010: First Round of 16 since 2010
Due to his assist to Hwang Hee-chan in a shock 2-1 victory against Portugal on 2 December, Son lead South Korea to its first round of 16 since 2010.
2010: Scored three goals
During the 2010-11 season, Son Heung-min scored three goals in 14 matches in all competitions.
2010: International Debut for South Korea
In 2010, Son Heung-min began his full international career, representing South Korea.
2010: Debut in Bundesliga
In 2010, Son Heung-min made his debut in the Bundesliga for Hamburger SV after relocating to Germany at age 16.
September 2011: Missed World Cup Qualifiers Due to Injury
In September 2011, Son initially missed the first two matches of South Korea's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign due to an ankle injury.
October 2011: Featured in World Cup Qualifier Against United Arab Emirates
On 7 October 2011, after initially missing the first two matches of South Korea's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in September 2011 due to an ankle injury, Son played in a friendly against Poland, and was again featured in 11 October 2011 World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates.
2011: Scored First International Goal
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup tournament finals, Son scored his first international goal during a 4–1 group stage win against India, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the AFC Asian Cup history.
2011: Season 2011-2012
During the 2011-12 season, Son Heung-min made 30 appearances for Hamburg and scored five goals. He recovered quickly from an ankle injury sustained on 27 August in a 4-3 loss to 1. FC Köln, returning to action three weeks later on 17 September.
2011: 2011 AFC Asian Cup
In 2011, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
2012: Named Starter for Hamburger SV
Following Hamburger SV's offseason moves in 2012, Son Heung-min was named a starter by manager Thorsten Fink.
February 2013: Two goals against Borussia Dortmund
On 9 February 2013, Son Heung-min scored two goals in an away fixture against Borussia Dortmund, contributing to his team's 4-1 victory. He was named Mann des Tages by kicker.
March 2013: Scored Winning Goal Against Qatar
In the World Cup qualifier against Qatar on 23 March 2013, Son came on as a substitute in the 81st minute and scored the winning goal in the 96th minute.
June 2013: Confirmed transfer to Bayer Leverkusen
On 13 June 2013, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the transfer of Son Heung-min for a reported €10 million. He agreed to a five-year deal with the team.
November 2013: Hat-trick against Hamburgers SV
On 9 November 2013, Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick for Leverkusen in a 5–3 win against his former club, Hamburgers SV.
2013: Moved to Bayer Leverkusen
In 2013, Son Heung-min moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a club record €10 million.
May 2014: Goal against Werder Bremen
On 10 May 2014, Son Heung-min scored a goal against Werder Bremen, securing his team a spot for the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League.
June 2014: Named in South Korea's Squad for 2014 World Cup
In June 2014, Son was named in South Korea's squad for the 2014 World Cup. On 22 June 2014, he scored in a 4–2 defeat to Algeria in the team's second group match.
2014: Season 2014-2015
During the 2014-15 season, Son Heung-min played for Bayer Leverkusen and scored 17 goals in 42 matches.
2014: 2014 FIFA World Cup
In 2014, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup.
2014: Hamburg contract through 2014
Son Heung-min signed a contract with Hamburg through 2014. Pundits predicted that he would become the next Cha Bum-kun.
February 2015: Hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg
On 14 February 2015, Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg in a 4-5 defeat.
August 2015: Joined Tottenham Hotspur
On 28 August 2015, Son Heung-min joined Tottenham Hotspur for £22 million (€30 million) on a five-year contract, becoming the most expensive Asian player in football history.
September 2015: Hat-trick against Laos
On 3 September 2015, playing at Hwaseong Stadium, Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick in an 8–0 victory for South Korea against Laos. This match was part of the second round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
2015: Debut season with Tottenham Hotspur
In 2015, Son Heung-min began his debut season with Tottenham Hotspur. On 13 September, he debuted against Sunderland. On 17 September, he scored his first two goals for the club against Qarabağ FK in the UEFA Europa League. On 20 September, he scored his first Premier League goal against Crystal Palace. On 28 December, he scored the winning goal against Watford. On 2 May, he scored against Chelsea but Chelsea equalised, handing the Premier League title to Leicester City.
2015: 2015 AFC Asian Cup
In 2015, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup held in Australia. During the quarter-final match, he scored both of his team's goals in extra time, securing a 2–0 victory over Uzbekistan. In the final game against the host team, he scored an equalizer in added time, but South Korea ultimately lost 2–1 after extra time. Son was recognized for his performance and was selected as one of the top three forwards in the Team of the Tournament.
2015: Season 2015-2016
Son Heung-min began the 2015-16 season with Bayer Leverkusen, making both a league appearance and a Champions League qualifying match.
June 2016: 2016 Summer Olympics
In June 2016, Son Heung-min was chosen as one of the overage players for South Korea's under-23 squad at the 2016 Summer Olympics. During the group stages, Son scored two goals, one against Fiji and another against Germany. His goals helped South Korea top their group with two wins and a draw. However, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Honduras, with Son missing crucial scoring opportunities.
September 2016: Premier League Player of the Month
In September 2016, Son Heung-min was named the Premier League Player of the Month, becoming the first South Korean and first Asian to receive the award.
April 2017: Premier League Player of the Month
On 12 May 2017, it was announced that Son Heung-min had won the Premier League Player of the Month for April, becoming the only player in the 2016-17 season to win the award twice.
May 2017: Goals against Leicester City
On 18 May 2017, Son Heung-min scored twice against Leicester City as part of a 6-1 victory. This made him, Harry Kane, and Dele Alli the first trio of Spurs players with over 20 goals in the season.
September 2017: 2018 World Cup Qualification
In September 2017, Son was part of the South Korean team that secured qualification for the 2018 World Cup after a 0–0 draw against Uzbekistan on 5 September 2017.
September 2017: First goal of the 2017-18 season
On 13 September 2017, Son Heung-min scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season in the UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium, which Spurs won 3–1.
November 2017: Top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history
On 5 November 2017, Son Heung-min became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history, breaking the record set by Park Ji-Sung.
January 2018: Scored in five consecutive home games
On 13 January 2018, Son Heung-min scored a goal and provided an assist in a game against Everton, matching the club record set in 2004 by Jermain Defoe of scoring in five consecutive home games.
June 2018: 2018 World Cup Goal
In June 2018, Son was selected for the 23-man squad for the World Cup. On 23 June 2018, he scored a notable goal from outside the penalty area against Mexico; however, his team lost 2–1.
July 2018: Signed New Contract with Tottenham
On July 2018, Son signed a new five-year deal extending his contract with Tottenham until 2023.
2018: 2018 FIFA World Cup and Asian Games
In 2018, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Games, where the team won gold.
2018: 2018 Asian Games Gold Medal
In 2018, Son was chosen as one of the overage players for the under-23 team at the Asian Games in Indonesia. He captained the team, scored the only goal against Kyrgyzstan in the group stage, and led them to the final. South Korea won the gold medal match against Japan 2–1 in extra time, with Son assisting in both goals, which granted the entire squad exemption from mandatory military service.
February 2019: Scored Against Borussia Dortmund and Named Premier League Player of the Year
On 13 February 2019, Son scored the first goal in a 3–0 win over Borussia Dortmund, in the first leg of the round of 16, UEFA Champions League. At the end of February 2019, he was named Premier League Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.
April 2019: Scored First Goal at New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
On 3 April 2019, Son scored the first professional goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace.
April 2019: Scored First European Goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Became Highest Scoring Asian Player
On 9 April 2019, Son scored the first European competition goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 1–0 win against Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the 2018–19 Champions League. In the return leg in April 2019, Son scored twice to earn Tottenham a 4–4 aggregate win and help the club reach the semi-finals. His brace also saw him become the highest scoring Asian player in the history of the tournament with 12 goals.
May 2019: Received First Red Card in Premier League
On 4 May 2019, Son received his first red card in the Premier League due to his vindictive action against Jefferson Lerma.
September 2019: Opened 2019-20 Account with Two Goals Against Crystal Palace
On 14 September 2019, Son opened his 2019–20 account by scoring two goals against Crystal Palace in the Premier League with a final result of 4–0.
December 2019: Sent Off in Game Against Chelsea
On 22 December 2019, facing Chelsea, Son was sent off after raising his boot against Antonio Rüdiger's ribs.
2019: UEFA Champions League final
In 2019, Son Heung-min became the second Asian in history to reach and start a UEFA Champions League final.
2019: 2019 AFC Asian Cup
In 2019, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
2019: Donation to Goseong Fire Victims
In 2019, Son donated approximately £100,000 to the victims of the Goseong Fire, which caused significant devastation in Goseong County, Gangwon, his native region in South Korea.
January 2020: Awarded Premier League Goal of the Month
In January 2020, Son was awarded the Premier League goal of the month for December for his goal against Burnley, eventually winning him the Goal of the Season award.
February 2020: Became First Asian Footballer to Score 50 Premier League Goals
On 16 February 2020, Son scored two goals at Villa Park and earned a 3–2 victory for Tottenham, in which he became the first Asian footballer to score 50 goals in the Premier League, with 51 scored goals in 151 Premier League matches, despite suffering a fracture to his arm.
November 2020: Received Third Premier League Player of the Month Award
Based on his performances, Son received his third Premier League Player of the Month award on 13 November 2020.
December 2020: Received FIFA Puskás Award
In December 2020, Son's goal against Burnley was further recognised by FIFA with a Puskás Award as the best goal of the past 12 months.
2020: Donation to Combat COVID-19
In 2020, Son donated £65,000 to aid in the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.
January 2021: Cho So-hyun Joined Tottenham Hotspur
On 28 January 2021, Son's counterpart on the Korean Women's National Team, Cho So-hyun joined FA WSL side Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.
July 2021: Extended Contract with Tottenham
On 23 July 2021, Son extended his contract with Tottenham until 2025.
2021: Premier League Golden Boot award
In the 2021-22 season, Son Heung-min won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 23 goals, becoming the first Asian player to achieve this.
February 2022: Tumi Brand Ambassador
In February 2022, Son Heung-min was selected as a brand ambassador for the American high-end luggage brand Tumi.
August 2022: Calvin Klein Brand Ambassador
On 7 August 2022, Son was named brand ambassador for Calvin Klein Underwear in South Korea.
October 2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup Selection
In October 2022, Son Heung-min, despite still recovering from an eye injury, was selected to lead the 26-man South Korean squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He wore a mask during the matches to protect his injury.
2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup
In 2022, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup.
2022: Brand Ambassador for Burberry
Since 2022, Son has been a brand ambassador for British luxury fashion house Burberry.
March 2023: Global Face of Burberry
In March 2023, Son Heung-min was named as the global face of Burberry's first campaign under its new chief creative officer Daniel Lee, alongside Georgia May Jagger.
April 2023: Scored 100 Premier League goals
In April 2023, Son Heung-min became the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals.
August 2023: Appointed as Tottenham's New Captain
On 12 August 2023, it was announced that Son had been made Tottenham's new captain, replacing Hugo Lloris.
2023: 2023 AFC Asian Cup
In 2023, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
February 2024: Tumi Global Ambassador
In February 2024, Son was upgraded to become a global ambassador for Tumi and appeared on its global campaign with the new TUMI 19 Degree Aluminum collection.
February 2024: Return from Asian Cup
On 10 February 2024, Son made his return from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, assisting teammate Brennan Johnson to score a late minute winner in a 2–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Mentioned in this timeline
Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in...
Burberry Group plc founded in by Thomas Burberry is a...
India officially the Republic of India is a South Asian...
Japan is an East Asian island country in the Pacific...
Harry Kane is a highly acclaimed English professional footballer renowned...
Syria officially the Syrian Arab Republic is a West Asian...
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