Son Heung-min captained Tottenham Hotspur to the Europa League title final season however will go away the membership this summer time.
After 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur, captain Son Heung-min introduced on Saturday that he plans to depart the English Premier League membership.
At a media convention in Seoul, Son, showing at instances to be holding again tears, mentioned his determination to depart the Spurs was ’probably the most tough” of his profession and mentioned the membership was supporting him as he seems to maneuver on to a different crew.
Spurs will face Newcastle United in a preseason pleasant on Sunday in Seoul in what may very well be the ultimate match of Son’s time at Spurs.
“Earlier than we begin the press convention, I simply wish to share the data that I’ve determined to depart this membership on this summer time,” Son mentioned. “Respectfully, this membership helps me to my selections. So I simply needed to share this info earlier than we begin the convention.
“I got here to North London as a child, 23 years previous, very younger age, a younger boy got here to London who even didn’t converse English and leaving this membership as a grown man is a really, very proud second.”
He continued his tribute by thanking Tottenham followers.
“So I simply wish to say thanks to all the Spurs followers that gave me a lot love and felt prefer it was my residence,” he mentioned. “It was one of many hardest selections I ever made. So I hope the goodbye is all the time additionally in a great timing you recognize. However I believe it’s the appropriate time to make this determination.” Son was requested in Korean on his future enjoying plans, and he replied: ’I don’t suppose I’ve a solution but.”
He additionally confirmed in Korean that he would play for South Korea on the World Cup subsequent 12 months in North America.
In Could, Son lastly received his first title in Europe as Tottenham defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final.
“I felt the strain. I needed it so badly,” Son mentioned after that match. “The final seven days, I used to be dreaming about this sport each single day. It lastly occurred, and I can sleep straightforward now.”
The 33-year-old Son has been one of many greatest stars of the Premier League, scoring 173 targets in 454 aggressive appearances for Tottenham. He was made captain in 2023 by former head coach Ange Postecoglou and helped the membership elevate its Europa League title, a primary trophy since 2008.
Son added that the crew’s latest success was an element: “ Profitable the Europa League made me really feel I had achieved every thing I may right here. I would like a brand new atmosphere for a recent problem.”
Son has been closely linked with a transfer to the US and there’s reported curiosity from Saudi Arabian golf equipment.
Thomas Frank succeeded Postecoglou in June and the Danish coach paid tribute to Son on Saturday.
“He’s really a Spurs legend in each side,” Frank mentioned. “Among the finest gamers to ever play within the Premier League, for my part, as a winger. I believe it’s in all probability the proper timing, going out on a excessive.”
Later within the media convention, Son reiterated that he has not selected the place he’ll play subsequent. However he mentioned subsequent 12 months’s World Cup was his precedence for his residence nation.
“I don’t suppose I’ve a solution but,” he mentioned of his future enjoying selections. “I believe I can share extra about my future after tomorrow’s sport as soon as issues turn out to be extra sure.
“My most essential precedence proper now’s the World Cup. It’s prone to be my final World Cup and I wish to give every thing I’ve in that atmosphere … I need to have the ability to play soccer fortunately, which I believe will play the most important function in my future decision-making. I’m nonetheless attempting to organise my ideas round that.”