축구를 하며 생각한 것들

by Son Heung Min, 손흥민

한국을 넘어 아시아 역대 최고의 축구선수가 누구인지 묻는다면 반드시 첫 손에 꼽힐 선수는 '손세이셔널' 손흥민일 것이다. 지칠 줄 모르는 득점포와 수비수들을 무력화시키는 압도적 플레이로 젊은 나이에 이미 전 세계에 이름을 각인시킨 손흥민은 축구 실력뿐만 아니라 통통 튀는 매력과 뛰어난 패션 감각으로 늘 화제의 중심에 오르는 슈퍼스타이다.

그러나 그런 가운데서도 천진난만한 웃음을 잃지 않는 순수한 스물일곱 살 청년이기도 하다. 손흥민의 첫 번째 에세이 <축구를 하며 생각한 것들>은 그 동안 우리가 쉽게 접할 수 없었던 '인간' 손흥민의 목소리를, 소소하고 담담한 기억과 생각들을 진솔하게 꾹꾹 눌러 담았다.

어린 시절부터 제도권 축구 교육에 얽매이지 않는 지도자인 아버지 아래서 받았던 혹독한 훈련들, 함부르크-레버쿠젠-런던으로 이어지는 오랜 타향살이를 이겨내고 가는 팀마다 에이스 자리를 차지했던 인고의 시간들, 그리고 그를 만든 주변 사람들과 토트넘, 국가대표 축구팀에서 겪고 느낀 개인적인 에피소드들까지, 화려한 스포트라이트에 가려진 손흥민의 진짜 이야기를 만나 보자.

ebook

Published August 21, 2020

Reviews

[lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love 손흥민 genuinely his story is so inspiring and hes just so cool so respectable idk

[Sungbin Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are different styles of education, two of which are goal-oriented education and growth-oriented education. Son Heung Min is the work of his father's growth-oriented education. He did not practice kicking or participate in competitive soccer for seven years. He patiently practiced dribbling and other foundational skills, and these strong foundations allowed him to cease every opportunity on the field later. What foundational skills can I work on?

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book.

The biggest surprise for me was the writing. It felt very rough and unpolished. There were several moments where I actually wondered if Son Heung-min really wrote it himself because it doesn't read like the polished celebrity memoirs that are usually ghostwritten. In a weird way, I appreciated that because it felt more authentic, but it also made the book harder to get through.

Most of the book focuses on his football career, his childhood in Chuncheon, and especially his relationship with his father. The stories about his family were the most interesting part for me. At the same time, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Some of the things his father did honestly came across as strange. Not letting him play football with other kids until he was older felt very controlling, and hearing that neighbors threatened to call the police because of how harshly his father trained him and his brother was pretty shocking.

I was also hoping for something more personal. Son Heung-min is such a private person that always puts on a happy face, and I thought this book would give more insight into how he thinks and feels as an adult. Instead, it mostly stays focused on football and his childhood. That's interesting, but I finished the book feeling like I still didn't really know him any better.

Overall, I think it's worth reading if you're a fan of Son Heung-min or if you enjoy football books in general. I don't regret reading it, but I think it missed the opportunity to be something much more memorable. Better writing and more reflection from the adult Son looking back on his life could have easily made this a four or even five-star read.