Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change

Aug 03, 2025

Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change
Son Heung-min greets fans at the match between Tottenham and Newcastle at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd. Sangam = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.08.03/



Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change
A match between Tottenham and Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank ahead of the match. Sangam = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.08.03/
"He was so beautiful when he replaced Son Heung-min"

It was a compliment from Tottenham manager Thomas Frank. Tottenham and Newcastle finished the second game of the '2025 Coupang Play Series' held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd with a score of 1-1. Win or lose didn't matter. All eyes were on Son Heung-min. The match was Son Heung-min's last dance.

Son Heung-min, who was quiet despite countless 'New Year's Day', opened his mouth in front of his home country's fans. Son Heung-min revealed his future course at an official press conference held at TWO IFC in Yeouido, Seoul on the 2nd. "I don't think it was an easy decision. This summer, I decided to leave the team (Tottenham). I felt like I had to say something about this."




Son Heung-min "It was one of the most difficult decisions to make while playing soccer. I'm also proud of being in a team for 10 years while playing soccer. "I want to start over with a new motivation in a new environment. When I first came here 10 years ago, I was a boy who was not good at English. Now I'm leaving because I'm a man. I think there's a good time to say goodbye, too. It's hard, but I'm leaving at a good time. I hope everyone understands this."

Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change
Son Heung-min is being rinsed against Tottenham and Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd. Sangam = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.08.03/
Son Heung-min's future has been the biggest concern this summer. Son Heung-min finally escaped from the military in the 2024-2025 season. He succeeded in winning his first major title by lifting the Europa League trophy. 'Captain' gave Tottenham its first win in 17 years and its first European stage win in 41 years. Neither Harry Kane (Munich) nor Gareth Bale (retired).

Son Heung-min is a legend of Tottenham in name and reality. Son Heung-min, who left Leverkusen in Germany in 2015 and wore a Tottenham uniform, won the FIFA (International Football Federation) Puskas Award, four EPL Player of the Month awards, and nine best footballers in Asia, as well as winning Asia's first English Premier League (EPL) top scorer. In 454 appearances, the sixth-most in Tottenham's history, he scored 173 goals, the fifth-most. The assist is No. 1.




Since the 2024-2025 season, concerns have poured out about 'Aging Curve'. Son Heung-min, who has scored seven goals, has ended his double-digit scoring record since the 2016-2017 season in nine seasons. He suffered from frequent injuries. Tottenham hesitated to renew the contract with Son Heung-min and only invoked the extension option. He had a contract until the summer of 2026, but he had to leave TottenhamThe story of ' kept coming out. 'Untouchable' was a change in position. British media said Tottenham will give Son Heung-min the authority to decide his future course of action.

Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change
A match between Tottenham and Newcastle at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, Son Heung-min is taking a hug with Yang Min-hyuk as he is replaced in the second half. Sangam = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.08.03/
Son Heung-min's decision was 'Beautiful Farewell' Son Heung-min's decision was so confidential that he only informed some of his best friends, including Ben Davies. Son Heung-min said, `By winning the Europa League, I achieved everything I could. I told him to play soccer in a different environment. I'm also grateful to the team that helped me make my decision."

Son Heung-min, who started on the left wing as coach Frank predicted, continued to cheer enthusiastically throughout the game. Even before the introduction of the game, thunderous applause poured out. Park Seo-joon, who started celebrating, thanked Son Heung-min for his long Tottenham journey, saying, "I had a lot of sleep, thank you, and I had fun. I wanted to say that I was happy" said the words. His congratulations were directed at Son Heung-min, who grabbed the ball and smiled holding Park Seo-joon.




From the first half, Son Heung-min did his best. In the 18th minute of the second half, a replacement sign came out. It was number seven. Son Heung-min came out after replacing Mohamed Qudus. All the players and staff sitting on the bench, including manager Thomas Frank, stood up and applauded. The fans were all over the place, too. Everyone stood up and shared the hero's last. All 22 players on the ground, not only Tottenham but Newcastle players, applauded. Everyone high-fived and congratulated Son Heung-min on his last day. Son Heung-min played his last role by handing over the captain's armband to Ben Davies.

Coach Frank said Son Heung-min, today was so beautiful at the last game change
The match between Tottenham and Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, Son Heung-min, was replaced in the second half and is being seen off by his teammates. Sangam = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.08.03/
Amid applause from fans, Son moved to the bench and hugged the players. Son Heung-min especially hugged Yang Min-hyuk for a long time. In the end, tears burst. Son Heung-min, sitting on the bench, cried for a long time. It was the last time Son Heung-min wore a Tottenham uniform. Although he failed to score an attack point, he decorated the final line of emotion in front of his home country's fans.

Coach Frank, speaking at the post-match press conference, said "It was a good thing between the good teams. In the first half, he tried to take the lead with high-pressing and created a chance. "I'm sorry for the decision, but the content of the game was good."

Regarding Son Heung-min's replacement scene, "It was so beautiful. Thank you to the players on the pitch, Newcastle. When Son Heung-min was replaced, he seemed to come up emotionally by hugging the players. It was a moment when the beauty and respect of soccer came into play." "I think today is Son Heung-min's last game," he said.

Coach Frank said, `Regardless of the news, Son prepared for the game professionally. Everyone knows Son Heung-min is that kind of player. I've prepared well."

On this day, coach Frank put in a lot of young players. Frank said "The notable player was Archie Gray. Gray made a big impression. It was impressive to see him carrying the ball, and he fought hard under pressure." As for Yang Min-hyuk, "He showed good enough." He must have been nervous in front of home fans, but he showed good performance. I had a chance to score, but unfortunately I couldn't score."

As for Madison, who was injured on the day, "Football is both cruel and beautiful. Madison said, "I can't make an accurate diagnosis, but it doesn't look good. I think I hurt the same part I hurt before."



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.