For Steve Cherundolo, Son Heung-min’s arrival at LAFC marks the realisation of a long-held vision. The head coach admitted the club has spent the past five years talking about signing a player “like Son” — a forward with relentless movement, the ability to attack space, link play, strike on the counter, and dismantle compact defences. “He’s the complete package,” Cherundolo said. “He fits our profile perfectly.”

A Seamless Integration
The early signs have been everything the coach could have hoped for. “His chemistry with the players is as good as it gets,” Cherundolo noted. “He’s blended in very quickly and in a very positive way. He’s open, honest, communicates actively with his team-mates, and has a lot of charisma. What I didn’t expect was how open he is with the younger players — he’s already sharing his experiences with them, even though they’re still getting to know each other. The time we’ve had together has been fantastic, and I’m looking forward to him taking on a leadership role.”

Productivity and Professionalism
Cherundolo was quick to link that leadership to tangible output. “On the pitch, we expect the same from all our attackers: productivity. Assists and goals. He’s shown that in training and in the first 30 minutes against Chicago. We expect more, and I’m sure he does too.”

Off the ball, Son has set a standard others can follow. “His training attitude and professionalism are absolutely a bonus. Our young players can look to him as a role model, just like they could with Olivier Giroud, Giorgio Chiellini or Hugo Lloris. Nobody gets to that level without working like a top professional. His sprint distances in training are among the best in the team. If you want to play at his level, there’s no fluff — you just run, at the right time and into the right space. But this is professional sport; we’re all judged by our performance in matches. Son will be judged the same way.”

Freedom to Switch – But a Central Focus
When asked about Son’s likely role, Cherundolo teased: “You can expect to see the line-up 90 minutes before kick-off,” before adding detail on his attacking plan. “Whether he comes inside and Bouanga goes left, or the other way around, we’re open to switching. We prefer players who can play all three front-line positions. During 90 minutes, what happens and where they are is under their control. In training, I’ve seen Nate [Brody], David [Martinez], Sonny and Bouanga all understanding each other and rotating. I expect them to cause chaos for opposing defences. My sense is that Sonny will end up playing more centrally than wide.”

Lifting the Dressing Room
For the coach, Son’s arrival has already changed the team’s mood. “Bringing in a world-class player like Son gives the team a huge boost. If I were a player here and Son came in, I’d be thrilled — and the players’ reactions tell me they feel the same. A player who can finish and make the team stronger is a huge motivator. It gives us an edge over other teams, which is exactly what we were looking for.”

The cameo in Chicago was a tantalising taste. “Those 30 minutes were the proof,” Cherundolo said. “Now the challenge is to replicate it — and in Boston, I hope we’ll see it for a little longer.”

Looking Ahead
LAFC travel to face New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday 17 August, 8.30am KST. For supporters, the question is simple: will this be the day Son Heung-min starts at the centre of LAFC’s attack for the first time?