Online news magazine The Diplomat also pointed out the stereotypes that English commentators rely on to describe players: European players are discussed in terms of skill, black players are “powerful” and Latino players are “tricky”. Asians are hard workers and humble.
Then came Son. “That is what Son has just smashed, because he is, as the standard cliche goes, ‘world-class’,” said Goldblatt.
Alan Shearer, well-established as the top scorer in the English Premier League history, called Son “absolutely phenomenal”. On the UK TV programme Match of the Day, Shearer said: “(Son)’s been one of the players of the season. His finishing’s been superb, his link-up play, what he’s offered Tottenham going forward.”
AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS
By breaking records and stereotypes, Son helps to open the way for other players to follow. According to the statistics site Soccerway, there are now over 300 players from South Korea and Japan playing professionally all over Europe.
Importantly, more are in the top tiers of the big leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
South Korea now has nine. Just in January, Lee Dong-jun signed for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga while 19-year-old Jeong Sang-bin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League.
Hwang Hee-chan plays in a similar position to Son, was born in the same city of Chuncheon and has followed a similar career trajectory, playing in Austria as a teenager in 2015 and moving to the English Premier League last August in a deal worth £14 million.
To Hwang, Son is an inspiration. “He had such a great season. I am proud of the way he represents the country,” said Hwang to South Korean media.
“Whenever I see him, it motivates me to play as well as he does. And I would love to keep getting better and challenge his record. I think a lot of football players see Heung-min as their role model.”
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