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Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was visibly emotional as he bid farewell to fans in his home country of South Korea on Sunday evening, in what may have been his final appearance for the club. The pre-season friendly between Spurs and Newcastle United in Seoul ended 1-1, but the result took a back seat to the poignant farewell for the 33-year-old forward.
Son, who has announced his intention to leave Tottenham this summer after ten years with the north London club, featured for 65 minutes at Seoul World Cup Stadium. He did not find the net but received an overwhelming ovation from the 65,000-strong crowd when he was substituted, embracing both teammates and opponents on his way off the pitch. Visibly moved, Son walked off in tears while the stadium echoed with chants of his name.
Although he was twice caught offside early in the match as teammates tried to set him up for a memorable send-off, Son had a quiet evening on the pitch. He was replaced by Mohammed Kudus in the second half, drawing an emotional reaction from players on both sides. His teammates lifted him into the air after the final whistle in a gesture of celebration and respect.
Reflecting on the occasion, Son admitted he hadn’t expected to cry, but was overcome after hearing heartfelt messages from his teammates. “Leaving the club I’ve spent so much time with felt really tough,” he said. “I felt really, really happy playing this match. Thanks to my fans, my teammates and also my opponents, I’ve had an unforgettable day.”
The South Korean star, who has been linked with a move to MLS side LAFC, declined to confirm his next destination, stating only that “nothing has been finalised”.
Tottenham coach Thomas Frank described the scenes as “unbelievable” and “beautiful”, praising the respect shown by both teams. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also commended the spontaneous tribute to Son, saying, “I think it was very instinctive from the players. It speaks volumes for him as a person and a footballer.”
Brennan Johnson gave Spurs an early lead with a goal in the fourth minute, celebrating with Son’s trademark camera gesture. Newcastle equalised in the 38th minute through Harvey Barnes, whose shot beat Antonin Kinsky and rebounded in off the post.
