Soccer star Son Heung-min of the English Premier League's (EPL) Tottenham Hotspur on Dec. 5 celebrates after scoring his team's third goal in a 3-0 win over Norwich City F.C. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (Yonhap News)
By Jung Joo-ri and Kim Hayeon
Soccer star Son Heung-min of the English Premier League's (EPL) Tottenham Hotspur is this year's best male Asian player according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
This is the second straight year for the striker to earn the award, following his first for 2020 that came in January this year.
Son scored a combined 22 goals in the 2020-21 season and eight this season through Dec. 20. He also recorded four goals for the national team this year.
In addition, his score on Oct. 12 in Tehran, Iran, in the Asian region's final qualifying round in Group A for next year's Qatar World Cup versus Iran was picked as this year's goal of the year by the Korea Football Association.
Among the IFFHS' picks for Asia's best this year, Takefusa Kubo of Japan, a player for the Spanish Primera Liga team Mallorca, was named Best Youth (U20) Player and Best Playmaker; Mathew Ryan of Australia Best Goalkeeper; and Herve Renard of France, who is head coach of Saudi Arabia, Best National Coach.
Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim of the Saudi Arabian pro club Al Hilal F.C. was named Best Club Coach and Samantha Kerr of Australia, a member of the English women's team Chelsea, Women's AFC Player of the Year.
etoilejr@korea.kr