Tottenham Captain Son Heung-min Breaks Down In Tears During Emotional Night In Seoul

‎On an emotional evening in his homeland of South Korea, Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was visibly emotional, shedding tears as his teammates celebrated him by tossing him into the air.

‎The occasion took place on Sunday during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

‎However, the match’s main focus was the farewell for the 33-year-old forward.

‎In what could have been his final appearance for Tottenham, Son Heung-min played 65 minutes at Seoul World Cup Stadium but did not find the net. This came a day after he announced his decision to leave Tottenham this summer after ten years with the club.

‎He received a thunderous ovation from nearly 65,000 fans as he left the pitch, embracing his teammates and even some opponents.

‎The emotional farewell capped off a memorable evening in his native South Korea.

‎The South Korean captain was caught offside twice in the early going, as his teammates tried to create opportunities for him, but didn’t really assert himself on the match otherwise.

‎Son was replaced in the 65th minute by Mohammed Kudus and he walked off in tears as thousands of fans chanted his name.

‎”I didn’t think I was going to cry at first,” Son said.

‎”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 LAFC in Major League Soccer, declined to reveal his next destination, saying, “Nothing has been finalised.”

‎Tottenham coach Thomas Frank said he enjoyed the “unbelievable, beautiful scenes” Son had with players from both sides on his way off the pitch.

‎Newcastle coach, Eddie Howe, said his players’ reaction to the end of Son’s night had not been planned ahead.

‎”I think it was very instinctive from the players,” Howe said.

‎”I think that speaks volumes for him as a person and him as a footballer that both teams recognise the way he’s played the game.”

‎Brennan Johnson put Tottenham ahead in the fourth minute with a right-footed strike, and the Welsh forward paid tribute to Son by mimicking the South Korean star’s signature camera celebration.

‎Harvey Barnes equalized for Newcastle in the 38th minute, curling a right-footed shot that struck the post and went in.

‎The match saw an exciting start with Johnson’s early goal and Barnes’s quick response.