Ange Postecoglou (60), head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, has declared his commitment to Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham).

The British 'Mirror' reported on the 26th (Korean time) that 'Son Heung-min's future has become clear. Coach Postecoglou is confident that Son will perform as a top player in the Premier League for years to come.'

The situation surrounding Son for the 2024-2025 season has been chaotic. Tottenham activated the extension option for Son's contract in January, agreeing to keep him until the summer of 2026, but faced intense criticism from local media due to declining performance and lack of leadership.

Despite these controversies, Coach Postecoglou believes that rather than transitioning to a new role as Son ages, he will continue to show outstanding performances in the coming years.

The Mirror noted that 'Son Heung-min has shown signs of rejuvenation in recent matches and is expected to play a crucial role for Tottenham in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive win against Manchester City,' adding that 'Coach Postecoglou mentioned that despite being 32 years old, Son continues to exhibit strength and is likely to have his best season creatively, highlighted by two assists to Brennan Johnson in last week's match against Ipswich.'

The media added that 'after Tottenham was eliminated from two domestic cup competitions, their schedule has become relatively more relaxed, allowing Son to have more rest and training time.' This has reportedly allowed Son to regain physical stamina.

According to reports, ahead of the match against Manchester City, Coach Postecoglou responded to a question about how long Son can perform at a top level, saying, 'I don’t know, but Son has been able to take rests in between matches, which has helped him a lot.'

He continued, 'We saw him recover from one match to another last weekend. After resting and recharging, he was particularly outstanding in the first half.'

Coach Postecoglou expressed his confidence in Son, stating, 'Players who manage and take care of themselves like Son can perform beyond any predictions. Just looking at the fact that he is still delivering excellent performances shows that he won't fade.'

He emphasized, 'Based on Son Heung-min's performances so far, he is still among the top five wingers in the Premier League. He has consistently delivered outstanding performances for 9 to 10 years at Tottenham. There are not many wingers who have shown such consistency.'

When Son Heung-min reaches a turning point as he ages, Coach Postecoglou stated that he cannot imagine him transforming into a different role. Unlike players like Harry Kane or Wayne Rooney, who took on deeper positions in the latter part of their careers, Son will still maintain his strengths on the flank.

Coach Postecoglou said, 'Son Heung-min is not that type of player, so he will not change to a different role.'

He added, 'The speed that people consider the most important factor for a winger is a trait that players with such speed transition to other positions, but for Son, speed is not the core. His ability to bypass opponents, especially his capability to leap over players in tight spaces, is excellent. Moreover, his finishing ability is outstanding.'

Postecoglou also explained, 'Son Heung-min is a player who has succeeded in difficult positions where he can frequently score while playing on the flank,' emphasizing that 'his ability will not decline, and he will not move to a lower position in the center. He will always remain a forward and continue to contribute on the flank.'

Coach Postecoglou noted, 'We have positioned Son in the center at times, but that was due to team needs, and he performed that role excellently. However, he still feels more comfortable on the flank. While there might be role changes as he ages, ultimately, he will always be a player who plays on the flank.'

[OSEN = Jung Seung-woo, reporter]