James Maddison Steps Up as Leader in Tottenham’s Win Without Captain Son Heung-min

With captain Son Heung-min (32) sidelined, vice-captain James Maddison (27, Tottenham Hotspur) proved his leadership on the field, guiding the team to victory.

On October 25 (KST), Tottenham Hotspur edged past AZ Alkmaar with a 1-0 win in their third UEFA Europa League (UEL) group phase match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

This victory marked Tottenham’s third consecutive win in the UEL, bringing their points to nine and placing them second overall behind Lazio. Meanwhile, Alkmaar, who failed to gain any points, fell to 24th place with three points.

Tottenham lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Timo Werner, Richarlison, and Mikey Moore up front, with Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Lucas Berival in midfield. The defensive lineup included Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, and Archie Gray, with Fraser Forster in goal. Son, who felt hamstring discomfort after his recent return against West Ham, was not listed in the squad.

Tottenham dominated from the outset but struggled to find the net. In the 27th minute, Werner missed a prime one-on-one chance after receiving a pinpoint pass from Berival, sending a clumsy shot off target. His shot in the 38th minute also flew over the crossbar.

The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Richarlison scored a penalty. Berival drew a foul in the box, earning Tottenham the chance. While Maddison was initially expected to take the penalty, Richarlison, having picked up the ball quickly, insisted on taking the shot himself. Although Maddison attempted to retrieve the ball, he eventually respected Richarlison's determination to take the penalty.

In a show of sportsmanship, Maddison yielded to Richarlison, who converted with a bold Panenka-style finish, outwitting the goalkeeper. Richarlison embraced Maddison after the goal, showing appreciation for his support, and also acknowledged the bench with a grateful gesture.

After the match, Maddison explained his decision to TNT Sports. “Initially, I wanted to take the penalty, especially as the acting captain today,” he admitted. “But standing there, I had a moment of realization. Richarlison was coming back from injury, and for a forward, scoring can be crucial to regaining confidence.”

Maddison further elaborated, saying, “I’ve been in that situation after a long injury layoff, and I know how important that first goal can be. It was a split-second decision, but I felt it would mean a lot to him.”

Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, also praised Maddison's selfless choice. “As long as we’re scoring, I don’t mind who takes the penalty. Maddison was exceptional tonight as the captain, both creatively and in decision-making,” Postecoglou noted. “Richarlison’s been training hard and is just finding his rhythm in the season.”

The coach continued, “Scoring is everything for a striker, and Maddison’s decision gave Richarlison that extra boost. Richarlison took it from there and did what was needed.”

Since joining Tottenham last summer, Maddison has earned the trust of manager Postecoglou, quickly taking on the vice-captaincy role. Alongside fellow vice-captain Cristian Romero, he has become a locker room leader, supporting captain Son Heung-min.

Despite a rough patch last season, including an ankle injury in December, Maddison has bounced back, with Postecoglou consistently showing faith in him. This season, he’s been performing well and is steadily raising expectations.

As acting captain in Son's absence, Maddison spoke about his role and mindset. “It’s an honor and a responsibility to lead, whether or not I wear the armband. I made the decision for Richarlison to take the penalty because it was best for the team. He’s good at them, and I wanted to support him,” he said, adding words of encouragement for his teammate.

Meanwhile, Son’s recovery from his hamstring injury remains a concern. He returned to action after a 22-day hiatus against West Ham on October 19, even scoring. However, ahead of the AZ Alkmaar game, Postecoglou shared that Son reported slight discomfort following the match. “We had planned for him to rest for this game. We’ll monitor his condition and give him the necessary rest,” the manager confirmed.