
As captain of the South Korean soccer crew and a ahead for English Premier League membership Tottenham Hotspur, Son Heung-min is aware of a factor or two about changing into a professional athlete.
In an interview with CNBC, Son shared his high recommendations on going professional and dealing with the pressures that include it.
“Sleep nicely, eat nicely and do what you want, you realize, like keep within the coaching floor if you want six hours, seven hours, eight hours,” he instructed CNBC’s Arabile Gumede in a video interview Friday.
Even when distractions are all over the place, the game ought to all the time be the precedence, Son believes.
“You might have so many choices, like, I do not know, like video video games, or like, that you just all the time wish to do extra, you realize, like, taking part in with buddies,” he mentioned. “I believe you need to be all the time considering the primary factor is soccer.”
Son left South Korea at age 16 to affix the German soccer membership Hamburger SV, with whom he made his first look in a high European soccer league in 2010. After then spending a while taking part in for Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, he switched to London-based Tottenham in 2015 for £22 million ($26.9 million).
Son additionally addressed among the greatest classes he has realized from his profession to this point.
“I believe the teachings are, simply do not attempt to chase your happiness,” he instructed CNBC. Many individuals consistently seek for happiness, he says — when in reality it might probably come from issues proper in entrance of you want your loved ones or job, Son believes.
Soccer star Son Heung-min shares high suggestions for making it as a professional athlete the most important classes he is learnt to this point.
Picture by James Williamson – Ama | Getty Pictures Sport | Getty Pictures
One of many key moments when this turned clear to him was simply earlier than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he bought injured and was undecided if he would be capable to lead the South Korean soccer crew into the highest worldwide event. Son had a fracture round his left eye, which pressured him to play with a protecting face masks.
“I used to be there so I used to be taking part in with the masks,” he mentioned. “I believe it is only a lesson that I learnt as a result of I believe constructive. […] Happiness is crucial factor.”
One other approach Son says he offers with the pressures of being a professional athlete is by falling again on his household and ensuring he talks to them about his psychological well being.
“I am unhappy, they’re unhappy, we’re completely satisfied and we’re all completely satisfied,” he says. “You may all the time share the emotions; you may all the time go together with the household.”