Son Heung-min Breaks Down During Tearful Farewell in His Final Match for Spurs
Son Heung-min bid a heartfelt goodbye to Tottenham in South Korea after ten years. Spurs’ pre-season tie against Newcastle ended 1-1, but Son’s farewell took centre stage.
An emotional chapter came to a close on Sunday evening as Tottenham Hotspur skipper Son Heung-min took leave of the club in his home country, South Korea.
The 33-year-old forward, who confirmed this weekend that he will part ways with Spurs after ten years of service, became visibly emotional during his farewell at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The pre-season clash between Spurs and Newcastle United ended in a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline was overshadowed by the outpouring of affection and appreciation for Son from fellow players, rivals, and the crowd of 65,000 spectators.
Son was part of the starting XI and played 65 minutes in what could be his last outing for Tottenham. Though he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his mere presence charged up the audience, many of whom were clad in South Korean flags and Spurs jerseys with his name.
His teammates seemed intent on giving him a farewell goal—feeding him the ball frequently early in the match—but Son was caught offside twice and couldn’t make a telling impact. When he was substituted midway through the second half for Mohammed Kudus, he walked off in tears to a massive applause, hugging his teammates and even Newcastle players before settling down on the bench.
“An Unforgettable Day”
“I didn’t expect to cry at first,” Son said afterwards. “But after hearing a few words from my teammates, it was very emotional to leave the club I’ve spent so many years with.”
“I was really, really happy playing in this match. Thanks to my supporters, my teammates, and even the opposition, this has been a day I’ll never forget.”
Son refused to confirm where he would be playing next season, although there are strong rumours linking him to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. “Nothing has been finalised,” he added.
A Goal and a Tribute
Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson netted the opener in the fourth minute with a well-executed right-footed shot—and celebrated with Son’s trademark camera pose in honour of the outgoing captain.
Newcastle levelled the score in the 38th minute through Harvey Barnes, whose shot ricocheted in off the post past keeper Antonin Kinsky.
Son, who joined Spurs in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen, has grown into one of the most adored players in the club’s recent history, with over 350 appearances and more than 160 goals. He also holds the title of South Korea’s all-time top scorer and captains the national team.
