Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min won a drought-ending title together at Tottenham, creating a bond that will last until death, according to the South Korean icon.
Postecoglou and club legend Son teamed up to help Tottenham win the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League – snapping Spurs’ 17-year wait for silverware.
It was Tottenham’s first European success in 41 years as Son wore the captain’s armband during the club’s historic season under the guidance of trailblazer Postecoglou, who was sensationally sacked afterwards.
Twelve months on from that magical night in Bilbao, Postecoglou and Son remain connected through their history-making feat with the Premier League side.
“We won the trophy together as captain and coach,” Son – now playing for MLS club Los Angeles FC – told the Daily Telegraph as he prepares for the FIFA World Cup with South Korea. “This is special. This relationship is going to be with me until we die.
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“Every coach is good at helping players on the pitch, but Ange was very helpful off the pitch as well. He taught me a lot about being a leader.
“He was really helpful and I just miss him.”
Speaking in partnership with McDonalds, South Korea’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker joked: “First of all, I didn’t know you call in Australia you call it Maccas … maybe when I’m next with Ange, I will ask him, “Should we go to Maccas?”
Son’s powerful words about Postecoglou are nothing new.
After Postecoglou was sacked at the end of 2024-25 before going on to lead Nottingham Forest in a brief spell, Son wrote via Instagram: “You’ve [Postecoglou] changed the trajectory of this club.
“You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.
“You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.
“You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you.
“Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.”
Son is now gearing up for what is likely to be his final World Cup campaign with South Korea, and expectations are high after the Taegeuk Warriors cruised through their qualification group without losing a game, conceding just seven goals in 10 matches.
With PSG starlet Lee Kang-In supporting Son going forward, and Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-Jae marshalling the defence, the Koreans will be confident of making it out of Group A, which also includes South Africa, Czechia and co-hosts Mexico.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, has been linked to a number of coaching vacancies in Europe, the most recent of which were Besiktas in Turkiye, and recently-relegated English club Burnley.
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