Ahead of Germany’s friendly match against South Korea at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, Ralf Rangnick shared a compelling story about his failed attempt to sign national team captain Son Heung-min for Hoffenheim.
The former Hoffenheim manager revealed at a March 30 press conference held at the Austrian Football Association training ground that financial hurdles blocked the deal despite reaching advanced negotiations.
Rangnick’s Candid Admission
“When I coached Hoffenheim, I pushed hard to sign Son Heung-min,” Rangnick stated. “We got right to the final stages, but budget issues stopped us. It’ll be great to see Son again tomorrow.”
He continued, “I believed Son would fit perfectly into our Hoffenheim squad. The transfer fell through, however, and Son became a legend at Tottenham Hotspur. Looking back, we could have used a talent like him even more.”
Rangnick, who led Hoffenheim from 2006 to 2011, highlighted Son’s ideal match for the team during that era.
Klopp Echoes the Sentiment
Jurgen Klopp, current Liverpool manager and former Borussia Dortmund boss, once described passing on Son as “the biggest mistake of my life” in a past interview.
Son burst onto the scene at Hamburg, joining the senior squad in 2010 after impressing in youth ranks. He notched a preseason hat-trick against Chelsea and made his competitive debut that October, but faced challenges due to foreign player quotas.
In January 2011, Hamburg signed Luis Gustavo from Hoffenheim as a replacement when the Brazilian moved to Bayern Munich, pushing Son back to the reserves despite his promise.
Son’s Proven Excellence
Rangnick stressed that Son delivered his peak performances at elite clubs like Tottenham Hotspur. “Son spent his prime years at top teams like Tottenham,” he noted.
Praise for South Korea’s National Team
Rangnick lauded South Korea’s talent ahead of the clash. “South Korea boasts two of the world’s best players. They suffered heavy losses to Cote d’Ivoire (0-4) and Brazil (0-5), but showed resilience—hitting the post three times against Cote d’Ivoire and competing fiercely against Brazil.
“They lose convincingly at times, but full compactness defines their play. Korea and Japan consistently demonstrate overall strength, especially in attack. I expect an improved showing tomorrow. Scoring 3-4 goals won’t be easy; we’ve prepared thoroughly,” Rangnick added.
Wolfsburg winger Patrick Wimmer agreed, saying, “Analysis reveals Korean players excel technically and overall. They deserve high praise. Even in the Cote d’Ivoire defeat, no pure issues arose.”
