Every single word Heung-min Son said in his farewell speeches to Tottenham fans
After officially completing a switch to Los Angeles FC, Heung-min Son has delivered an emotional goodbye to Tottenham fans, summing up the highlights of his 10 years at the club and his feelings on leaving.
Heung-min Son leaves Tottenham as arguably the most revered player in the club’s recent history and as one of Spurs’ biggest legends.
From the outpouring of emotions from Tottenham fans on social media after Son’s exit, it is clear to see just how much the 33-year-old meant to everyone associated with the Lilywhites.
The forward leaves Tottenham as their record appearance maker in the Premier League, a golden boot winner, and fittingly as a Europa League-winning captain.
Heung-min Son opens up on ups and downs at Tottenham
The South Korean has now penned an emotional message, taking us through his decade in North London. He revealed the great memories that he leaves the club with and admitted that Spurs will always be in his heart.
Heung-min Son told Tottenham’s official website: “It’s hard to talk because I don’t know where to start. I grew up in tough places. I came here… one thing was clear, you know, I wanted to give my all. So, as a kid, when I started football, this was always in my head, because performance-wise, I think it could be ups and downs, ups and downs, but I give it my all. I think you can do it every single time. So, this is me and this is how I train, this is how I learned from my parents.
“I came to north London 10 years ago. I was very nervous, to be honest. Before I joined Spurs, I was very young, and having sessions with some teams in England, and it was quite difficult because I couldn’t speak English and it felt like everybody just wasn’t having me, so I didn’t have really good memories in the UK, if I’m honest. But when I went to White Hart Lane – obviously it was still White Hart Lane when I joined – when I walked in, everybody just welcomed me to north London. I had a special feeling, but afterwards I had to do the English interview, so I was quite a bit nervous because I couldn’t speak English! I still remember that I just said, ‘I’m happy to be here’, and I was just so excited.
“I made a brave decision because it was the Premier League and Spurs and (hoping) that everything would come together. Obviously, the fear was still there, but I just wanted to make my fear not exist. My dream was to play in the Premier League, you know, and do whatever I could, try to be the best player in the world. That decision was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“Obviously, I was not expecting my first year to be amazing, but after the games go on, I think people, players, trusted me more and more, and fans gave me love, and I just wanted to stay as long as possible. I always wanted to give something back to the fans. From this period until now, I get so much love, I’m so grateful. To get love, it’s just not free, you know, everybody has to make a big, big effort, but as soon as the people understood the way I play, I think they loved me.
“The Spurs family, they will remember my name forever. I scored the first goal in the stadium, won a trophy as captain. To win the Europa League, it was something special and spectacular, I think. The way we handled the situation, the circumstances we faced, it was one of the hardest challenges we’ve faced, so lifting the trophy as captain of this club, it makes you feel like you are special person, you know. That day I still remember, I feel it. The parade was just incredible, and I never forget those moments… the happiest faces I ever seen from the fans, smiling, laughing, even some people were crying. They were just so proud of the boys, it was just something I’ll never ever forget, and I will watch the clips forever.
“I’m very proud of what I achieved for this amazing football club, and I’m very proud, to be honest, what I achieved as an individual, as a collective, I think is something special. You have to earn it, you have to be playing well, you have to be nice on and off the pitch, and you have to be a top footballer and also the top professional, you know, so that’s what I dream of, and seeing the Korean fans, so many Korean fans in the stadium, makes me even more proud. I’m not the guy who always taking it, you know, I always wanted something to give back. I get so much love, so I take the love, but I always want to give the happiness and the true love that I had while I’m playing. Seeing Korean fans, also the Spurs fans welcome the Korean fans, makes me very, very happy.
“I’m very lucky that I had amazing mum and dad who were very strict on me. They always said to me, ‘it doesn’t matter how good you are as a footballer, you want to be a better person than a footballer’. As I get older, you’re obviously facing reality and you always see the younger players coming in. I just want to be a good role model where everybody looks at me and say, ‘look, we have an amazing captain who is also playing good but also being an amazing human being’.
“It’s hard to say it, but there is not forever. It was tough, but I gave everything I could, everything I had, and the loyalty, that was also was important, but as I said, for me, it was clear that I wanted to give something back – that was the trophy. I came here as a kid, but leaving as a grown man, that is something special. I’m very grateful to the club and all the staff, all the coaching stuff, all the players I played with and hugely, hugely grateful to everyone, especially the fans.”
In a teary-eyed final interview with Tottenham’s channel, Heung-min Son said: “To all the Spurs fans. I mean, it’s such a hard decision that I will leave the Spurs family. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. And as I say there’ll be no forever and I gave (my) all.
“I know it sounds very surprising, I know it sounds very hard. Because I gave (my) all, I feel like I need a new chapter. So it was probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. So please don’t be disappointed. I will be disappointed not seeing you on the pitch.
“I will always be in your history books and Spurs will always be in my heart, Spurs will always be in my family. As a kid you welcomed me and as I grew up, I’m leaving you, but there’s always good timing.
“I always want to leave in a perfect way (so) that people can think about me, very proud moments and very happy moments. This is the right time to say goodbye and I love you all. Thank you for the amazing support for the ten years. Ten years is a lot, huh? There was a lot of goals and a lot of good memories.
“Don’t forget it was one of my hardest decisions. It was a huge honour wearing the Spurs kit. Huge honour playing for you and I hope we see each other very, very soon.
“All the best (in) the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup… I wish you win all these four competitions. See you very, very soon. Now we are all crying but next time when we see each other I hope everybody is smiling. Thank you so much for your amazing support for ten years and come on you Spurs.”
Son pens emotional letter to the supporters
The Tottenham Hotspur legend also penned an emotional farewell letter to the fans who have cheered him on through thick and thin for the last 10 years.
It is fair to say that the letter will tug at the heartstrings of Spurs fans, with Son admitting that he has made memories for a lifetime at N17.
The letter, which was published by Tottenham reads as follows:
“Dear Spurs fans,
You’re always in my pictures,
Every time I celebrate,
I make a memory of you.
It’s our moment.
I make the frame,
So I don’t forget.
You welcomed me to North London,
You watched me grow.
Beautiful moments,
The Golden Boot,
The Puskas Award,
You were there.
When I suffered,
You were still there.
You stayed with me,
and I stayed with you.
I never imagined captaining this team,
but I always dreamed that I would win something for you.
We won the Europa League,
and you all deserve it.
Thank you for these years,
Keep every picture.
You were always in the frame.
Thank you so much,
Love,
Sonny”
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