Son Heung-min makes Asian football history with Golden Boot win
Son Heung-min makes Asian football history with Golden Boot win
Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min clinched a history-making Premier League Golden Boot with a brace in Sunday's 5-0 thumping of Norwich City.
The South Korea international started the day on 21 goals - one adrift of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who was only fit enough for a place on the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Spurs already 3-0 up and cruising to fourth place and a spot in the Champions League, Son moved onto 22 Premier League goals before doubling his tally on the day to go clear of Salah.
However, Salah would come off the bench to score Liverpool's second against Wolves at Anfield and force another share of the Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season.
In doing so, Son became the first-ever Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, and the 29-year-old admitted that he had been dreaming of such a moment since childhood.
A message from Golden Boot winner, Heung-Min Son ???? pic.twitter.com/gC6L3ic6ok
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 22, 2022
"It's incredible to have this award. I can't believe it. I got really emotional. I dreamed of it as a child. Literally it's my in hands. I can't believe it," Son told BBC Sport at Carrow Road.
"Until my goal I was really frustrated that I missed big chances. I told the players I missed the easiest chances and scored one of the toughest tones. I didn't give up. I wanted to score today.
"The team helped me a lot at half-time. They wanted to help me, you could see it today. This season was a great lesson. Next season we can look forward to the Champions League. Everyone deserves to be there.
"Conte gives us so many different things. Before he came here nobody believed we'd reach the Champions League. It's really heavy [the trophy], I wasn't expecting that. It was a great, great day for me."
Spurs manager Antonio Conte revealed that securing the individual honour for Son was a secondary objective in Sunday's game as Tottenham sealed a return to the Champions League in style.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur against Norwich City on May 22, 2022
© Reuters
"This was our target. First to get in the Champions League but then when there was a chance to help Sonny reach the top scorer, we enjoyed it," the Italian added.
"I have seen his team-mates try to help him. The award is for Son but it's for the whole team. They helped him reach this big achievement."
Son and Salah's Golden Boot share represents the fifth time that two or more players have both won the individual honour, with Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also doing so in 2019.
Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov struck 20 apiece in the 2010-11 season, while Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink had 18 each in 1998-99.
Owen, Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton also ended the 1997-98 season atop the charts with 18 goals, while Tottenham players have now won the award five times after Harry Kane scooped the honour last term.
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Source: SportsMole
