Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was given an emotional farewell in his native South Korea, drawing tears from both players and fans in what is likely his last appearance for the club.
SEOUL, South Korea – In an emotional and tear-filled send-off, Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min bid farewell to the club he has called home for a decade. The occasion came during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, a match that ended 1-1 but was overshadowed by the tributes for the departing superstar.
Son, 33, had announced his decision to leave the club a day earlier, stating he needed "a new environment to push myself." In what was likely his final appearance for Spurs, he was given a touching guard of honor as he left the pitch, surrounded by players from both teams. Visibly emotional, the forward was seen crying on the bench as the nearly 65,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium gave him a standing ovation.
New Tottenham coach Thomas Frank praised the departing captain, calling him "a true Spurs legend" and one of the best players to ever play in the Premier League. The sentiment was echoed by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who noted the instinctive tribute from his own players, saying it "speaks volumes about him."
The match itself saw Brennan Johnson score for Tottenham, with Harvey Barnes equalizing for Newcastle. However, the game ended on a sour note for Spurs with midfielder James Maddison being stretchered off with what coach Frank suggested was a serious knee injury.
Son, who won the Europa League with Tottenham last season, leaves the club having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. While his next destination remains unconfirmed, he has been heavily linked with a move to MLS side Los Angeles FC.
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