Son Heung-Min has collected his share of individual awards and team trophies in his career. Along the way, LAFC’s newest signing has also garnered admiration and glowing praise from coaches, teammates, and rivals—not just for his skills but for his personal warmth, professionalism, and integrity.
Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United 1986-2013) named Son as one of the modern players he would have loved to coach, calling him “excellent.” Ferguson has plenty of company among Son’s admirers:
“You know how many times Son punishes us the last seven, eight years? … Oh my God.”
- Pep Guardiola (Manchester City manager)
“One of the biggest mistakes of my life is not signing Son Heung-Min.”
- Jurgen Klopp (former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager)
“If I need to find an example, or want to find a husband for my daughter, I’d like it to be a person like him.”
– Antonio Conte (Napoli manager, Tottenham manager 2021-2023)
“The way he takes on the responsibility of his whole nation — and he takes it very seriously — I think it’s commendable. It’s beyond commendable … There are players who go the other way in terms of fame and fortune, and kind of lose their way a little bit, but he’s still very grounded. He knows what’s important to him.” -
- Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham manager 2023-2025)
“He ticks all the boxes. If one player deserves a big price, it’s him.”
- Mauricio Pochettino (U.S. Men’s National team manager, Tottenham manager 2014-19)
“Lovely, lovely, lovely guy, amazing … so friendly. Great professional to work with. He is a special guy.”
- Pochettino
“My son calls him ‘Sonaldo.’ Sonaldo Nazario … I remember Compostela v. Barcelona 1996, Ronaldo Nazario got the ball behind the midfield line and scored a very similar goal to Son. It’s the only thing that comes to mind [comparable to Son’s 2020 Puskas Award winning goal]. Amazing goal.”
- Jose Mourinho (Tottenham manager 2019-21; only manager to have won all three UEFA club competitions)
“He is truly a Spurs legend in every aspect … a fantastic person and player.”
- Thomas Frank (Tottenham manager)
“He can find the gaps, find the spaces. And he’s a killer. He’s a killer.”
- Nuno Espírito Santo (Nottingham Forest manager, Tottenham manager 2021)
"He's seen as one of the game's great Premier League players and one of the great Premier League players in terms of character and attitude as well … It shines through with how he plays."
- Eddie Howe (Newcastle United manager)
“Son is a warm person to be around and a fantastic captain who sets an example… When Son Heung‑Min is the captain, you don't want to disappoint him.”
- James Maddison (Tottenham midfielder)
“We have Sonny – he’s the best example for us. By his attitude and the way he is, you know you have to follow his way.”
- Yves Bissouma (Tottenham midfielder)
“It was a very special connection. It was a huge honor playing with him … For me, he's one of the best in the world."
- Harry Kane (England captain, Tottenham’s all-time leading goal scorer, half of the top goal-scoring duo in EPL history [with Son])
