[World Class③] Strict Training and Freshly Cooked Rice... The Key Contributor Is Father

Training and Coaching Since 3rd Grade: "Don't Come Back to Korea" High School Dropout
Cooking White Rice Himself in Germany: "If It Weren't for My Father's Help..."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Son Heung-min, who made new history, was scouted by Hamburg, Germany at the age of sixteen and was exposed to advanced football. He grew into the Bundesliga's top striker while playing for Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

In 2015, he broke the record for the highest transfer fee ever paid for an Asian footballer by moving to Tottenham in the English Premier League (EPL). Whenever the team was in trouble, he played brilliantly and was recognized as the ace and a world-class forward. He also serves as the captain and a mental pillar for the national team, firmly holding the center.

Under his father's strict guidance, Son Heung-min honed his talent from the third grade of Gasan Elementary School. His father, Son Woong-jung, was also a former professional football player. At that time, he ran a football school called ‘Hobani FC.’ He was so strict that many students quit after just a few days.

Son Heung-min practiced ball lifting every day for seven years without a single day off. There were times when he pushed through for four hours straight. Even when complaints were filed at the police station, Son Woong-jung did not stop the hard training. He believed that being able to control the ball freely with both feet was essential to passing, crossing, and shooting. Movement and tactics came afterward. Son Heung-min said, "My father emphasized the basics and really disliked the coaching method that evaluated youth players based on their grades."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Son Heung-min continued to train under his father until the second year of middle school at Hupyeong Middle School. He transferred to Yukmingwan Middle School in Wonju, where he first joined an elite football team. In the last tournament of his third year, the Autumn National Middle School Football Federation Blue Dragon Group, he led the weakest team to the runner-up position. Thanks to that, he was selected for the under-15 national team and entered Dongbuk High School, a prestigious football school. Son Woong-jung helped his son's football career by navigating complicated administrative procedures.

"Even though our family situation was so difficult, my father always made sure I had good uniforms and football shoes. Even if he wore socks with holes, he always made sure I wore new socks."

Despite the family's financial difficulties, Son Heung-min was able to advance to Europe early thanks to the Korea Football Association's overseas study program. Son Woong-jung obtained football diaries written by players like Ji Dong-won and Nam Tae-hee, who had gone to Europe before, and made Son Heung-min read them to provide tailored education. Son Heung-min was noticed by Tis Blimaister, a scout from Hamburg and now his agent, which allowed him to go to Germany. Son Woong-jung personally searched for a German tutor in Chuncheon and had him study for four hours a day. He even made Son Heung-min drop out of Dongbuk High School, telling him not to think about returning to Korea.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Son Woong-jung's dedication continued even in Germany. As soon as he heard that the meals at the clubhouse were inadequate, he hurriedly packed and left for Germany. He used all the money he had to stay at the cheapest hotel near the dormitory and cooked white rice himself with a rice cooker. After training, he took his son to the gym to do strength training. Son Heung-min credits his father as the number one reason for his success.

"If it weren't for my father's help back then, I might have given up halfway. My father always told me not to get carried away."

Son Heung-min took his father's words to heart and spread his wings to become the world's best footballer. He became the first Asian to win the EPL Golden Boot, but his journey is far from over. He continues to run on the football field, aiming even higher.

"Why were Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi able to rise so high? I think it's because they worked that hard. They are still flying without coming down, which means they are still working hard. It's just not visible on the surface. Like them, I will continue to restrain myself, train, and run toward my dreams."