Son Heung-min surprised young footballers with his appearance at an Adidas event on Monday as part of the ‘You Got This’ initiative.
The Tottenham captain and the famous sports clothing brand joined forces with the Kinetic Foundation to show up pitch-side at Harris Academy in North London during a usual afternoon training session.
The initiative is set to show the positive behaviours that athletes need from people on the sidelines amid disappointing statistics that demonstrate the high negative pressure in sports.
The brand’s ‘Sideline Essentials’ campaign has revealed that four out of five amateur sportsmen experience negative behaviours from coaches, parents and team-mates on a regular basis.
On his side, Son put the initiative into practice, advising the rising football stars of some essential values they must focus on during the game, such as cheering and clapping for players or using post-match conversation for support rather than analysis.
‘Over 90 minutes of football there can be many highs and lows – so in the tough moments, even the smallest bit of support can make the biggest difference,’ he said.
Son Heung-min made a surprise appearance at a training session for young footballers on Monday
The Tottenham captain joined forces with Adidas and Kinetic Foundation to demonstrate the positive behaviours athletes need during and after their matches
The initiave comes after their research revealed that four out of five amateur athletes experience negative behaviours
‘Knowing someone believes in you – whether that’s your coach, a teammate or a close friend off the pitch – is what gives you the confidence to play with freedom and enjoy each moment.
‘Giving support is such an impactful action but we all need to know what the right type of support looks like and that’s why adidas’ ‘Sideline Essentials’ is so important.’
The ‘Sideline Essentials’ initiative involves several football stars from top European clubs, such as Lamine Yamal and Aitana Bonmati, as well as former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Since taking over the captain’s armband in August 2023, replacing Hugo Lloris, Son has displayed the qualities of a supportive team leader.
His involvement in the campaign comes after the Spurs winger has publicly defended team-mate James Maddison following Roy Keane’s criticism.
‘He’s good, he’s a talented player, but if you’re a player in the Spurs dressing room and Maddison’s back in the squad, you wouldn’t be looking and going, oh Jesus he’s back today, we’re going to be fine,’ said the Man United icon.
However, after scoring against the Red Devils at the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium last week, the England international appeared to hit back at Keane with a ‘shush celebration’.
The Spurs captain later added: ‘Everybody has an opinion but I don’t care what they say – for me, Madders is one of the best team-mates I’ve played with in my career.
‘In big games he steps up and scores goals, and that’s why we’ve missed him.
His involvement in the campaign follows his support for team-mate James Maddison following his recent raw with Manchester United icon Roy Keane
‘Everyone has an opinion, but me and Madders had a chat about this because he’s always had a good personality and been able to move on – he’s shown people that it’s wrong.’
Despite the team’s disappointing results throughout this season, the South Korean star still plays a significant role in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
Following their victory against United, Spurs have risen to 12th place in the Premier League table with just 30 points.
In addition, the 32-year-old player has endured a challenging campaign on a personal level, with only six goals and seven assists in the national league so far.
It is understood that he is expected to stay in London until the end of his current deal in 2026.
However, his undisputed role as a starter could be changed after Dominic Solanke’s return to the squad after his injury.
