Tottenham Hotspur have announced the appointment of Son Heung-min as the new club captain for the 2023/2024 Premier League season.
The club’s decision came after Harry Kane successfully departed the team to join the Germain Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.
The club’s current captain Hugo Lloris is also set to leave the North London team with Lazio keen to secure the Frenchman’s service on a free transfer despite having a year left on his contract.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, Lloris has been with Tottenham Hotspur since 2015, but the former France goalkeeper’s future at the club is in question.
Son Heung-min, the South Korean forward succeeded long-serving skipper Hugo Lloris, who is still technically staying at Spurs but is wanted to depart before the summer transfer window shut its doors as he seeks a new challenge elsewhere after 11 years in North London.
Harry Kane was expected to take over as the club captain had he stayed at the club rather than moving to Germany in pursuit of the first silverware of his career.
Tottenham Hotspur have now announced their new leadership team with the club manager Ange Postecoglou naming the players he will be looking to work together with this season.
Son has been handed the armband this season with the former Bayer Leverkusen winger already possessing the position in his native country South Korea for four years already.
Tottenham summer signing James Maddison and Argentina center-back Cristian Romero have also been named as assistant captains.
James Maddison wore the captain’s armband on different occasions when he was still a member of Leicester City.
Defender Cristian Romero, who initially joined Spurs on loan in 2021 before signing permanently last summer, will serve as the other assistant.
Son expressed his excitement as the new club captain by saying: “It’s such a big honor to captain this huge club”.
“It was a big surprise and a very proud moment. I’ve already said to the players that everyone should feel like a captain, on and off the pitch”.
He added: “It’s a new season, a fresh start and I will give everything for this shirt and this armband”.
However, it is no doubt that Kane’s leadership would be greatly missed, but it is also thought that the club might benefit from having the leadership responsibilities divided among three stars.
Son will be well-liked by Spurs supporters due to his enormous influence and popularity at the club since his 2015 transfer from Bayer Leverkusen and has created one of the most devastating attacking partnerships in Premier League history with Kane.
Son moved to Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in a £25.9 million transfer in 2015, and since then, he has made 372 appearances for the club in all competitions, with 80 assists and 145 goals.
Although the former Hamburg youth has never won a significant team title in North London, he shared the Golden Boot award after scoring a league-high 23 goals with Mohamed Salah.
Son is the only player from the Asia continent to have scored 100 goals in the English Premier League, making him the first Asian player to ever earn the Golden Boot.
Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, praised Son for having demonstrated leadership skills while serving as the captain of South Korea.
Son Heung-min pays tribute to Harry Kane
The South Korean international winger took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to his former partner Harry Kane following his move to Germany powerhouse Bayern Munich.
The 31-year-old shared several pictures of him and the England striker during their best moments wearing the Lilywhite jersey together.
Son posted the photos with a caption that reads: “Leader, brother, legend. Since day one it has been a joy to play by your side”.
He added: “So many memories, amazing games, and incredible goals together, Harry thank you for everything you have given to me, to our club, and to our fans, wish you nothing but the best in your new chapter. Good luck brother”.
What’s next for Son and Tottenham?
On Sunday, the 13th of August, at 14:00, Spurs will play their first Premier League game without Kane when they travel to Brentford.
Son will lead Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in Sunday’s away Premier League opener against London rivals Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
