Yang Min-hyuk Signs For Tottenham Hotspur: 10 Highlights From the Teenager's Breakout Season
*Note: This article is an expanded version of one initially uploaded on July 28th, 2024*
A Debut Assist
Starting as he meant to go on, it would take just over 30 seconds for Yang Min-hyuk to get his first goal contribution in Gangwon FC's first team. After the ball broke to the forward inside the box, his shot deflected off Lee Sang-heon to head into the net, setting the tone for what was to come straight from his debut.
A First Goal
Just one week later, Yang Min-hyuk would go one better. Against Gwangju, the young winger would win the ball high up the pitch and calmly dribble forwards, before his curling effort flew into the corner. Sadly, Gangwon would go on to lose that game 4-2, but it was already starting to become evident they had a very exciting prospect on their hands.
May Momentum
As Gangwon FC would settle into form during May, so too would Yang Min-hyuk. The start of this hot-streak came when the 18-year-old netted against eventual Korea Cup winners Pohang Steelers, though the highlight of the month was undoubtedly his goal in a 2-1 victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. There, Yang would rocket the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle, giving the Bears vital early momentum in a key win.
Young Player of the Month
Capping off this period of form from May, Yang Min-hyuk would follow-up on his April achievement of being the youngest recipient of the K League Young Player of the Month accolade, by winning it for the second consecutive month. Richly deserved, it was a bookmark in the quickly developing career for the winger, and recognition his skill was not going unnoticed. And, he would ultimately win this award five times across 2024.
Sinking Suwon FC
With Gangwon looking up for challenging at the upper-echelon of K League 1, they went into a home match against Suwon FC knowing a win could temporarily put them top of the table. And, after Yago Cariello put the hosts 2-1 in front, it was none other than Yang Min-hyuk who would firmly secure the three points for the Bears, with a composed finish that highlighted developments in this area of his game. Now, not only was there belief that Gangwon could have a star in their ranks, but that with a consistently delivering squad, AFC Champions League qualification was nowhere near out of the question for the club.Going Pro
Moving on, the logical next step was to sign Yang Min-hyuk to a fully-fledged professional deal. And that was formalised on June 17th, via a livestream, months ahead of the initial end-of-year plan. Gangwon had now acknowledged the undeniable success of their star rookie, amidst growing rumours of European interest.
At the Double
After going six games without a goal contribution, Yang Min-hyuk would return to the headlines with a double against Jeju United, making him the youngest K League player to score multiple times in a single game. The first, a curling effort from a well-worked corner routine, would put Gangwon 2-0 up, before a seamlessly-placed second-half volley from inside the box cemented the points for the Bears. And, while young players should always be allowed the chance to develop away from undue expectation, it was becoming hard to avoid thinking about the quickly-growing rumours of a Premier League move for the winger.Pressure? What Pressure?
As conversation started to develop about Yang Min-hyuk signing for Tottenham Hotspur, amidst a season which had seen the 18-year-old awarded three consecutive Young Player of the Month accolades, be voted into the Team K League game against Spurs, and develop into a focal point of Gangwon's attack, the direct winger would show he was laser-focused on the task at hand for his current club with a goal and assist against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
For his goal, after a sharp passage of buildup play, the ball would find itself at Yang Min-hyuk's feet from just outside of the box, before a deft touch gave him a shooting opportunity he was never going to pass up. And, true to his current form, the 18-year-old winger would put Gangwon into the lead with a top-corner strike.
Ending the Year Strong
With Gangwon enjoying a record-breaking season, Yang Min-hyuk would continue to be a key contributor for the rest of 2024. In particular, the 18-year-old became a vital component of a counter-attacking system used in Final A action, where he would be relied upon to quickly move the ball forward, create chances for himself and teammates, whilst also getting stuck into defensive duties.
Across these last five games, Yang bagged two winners for himself, meaning his goal contributions for the season helped directly lead to 16 of the club's 64 points. This included an excellent finish against Pohang Steelers in the final round of the season, which wrapped up the 18-year-old's time with the Bears with one final winning goal. As a result, Gangwon would ultimately finish in second-place, their highest-ever K League 1 finish.
K League Young Player of the Year
Unsurprisingly, Yang Min-hyuk would not only make it into the K League's Best XI during the end-of-year awards ceremony, but find himself given the accolade of Young Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of ex-Gangwon winger Yang Hyun-jun. Richly deserved for the youngest player to reach 10 K League 1 goals, the 18-year-old's breakout 2024 saw him develop at a truly commendable pace, while he established himself as a critical component in the Bears' success.
Ending the year with 12 goals, six assists, a host of accolades and bags of confidence, Yang will now continue his journey at Tottenham Hotspur. But his time in the K League, although brief, will be hard to forget, and is likely to be referenced for years to come.
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