Son Heung-min was in tears as he bid an emotional farewell to Tottenham Hotspur during a 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday.
In what could be his final appearance for the club after a decade of service, the 33-year-old South Korean captain played 65 minutes at Seoul World Cup Stadium, receiving a thunderous ovation from nearly 65,000 fans when substituted.
“I didn’t think I was going to cry at first,” Son admitted. “But after hearing a few words from my teammates, leaving the club I’ve spent so much time with felt really tough. I felt really, really happy playing this match. Thanks to my fans, my teammates, and also my opponents, I’ve had an unforgettable day.”
Son, who has been linked with a move to LAFC in Major League Soccer, declined to confirm his next move, saying, “Nothing has been finalised.”
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank described the farewell scenes as “unbelievable, beautiful,” while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe praised the spontaneous show of respect from both sets of players, saying it reflected the high regard Son commands.
Spurs opened the scoring through Brennan Johnson in the fourth minute, with the Welshman mimicking Son’s signature camera celebration as a tribute. Harvey Barnes equalised for Newcastle in the 38th minute.
As Son walked off the pitch in tears, hugged by teammates and even opponents, the stadium echoed with chants of his name — a fitting send-off for one of Asia’s greatest footballing icons.
