Heung-min Son: The humble hero who leaves Tottenham as a legend - and with Pep breathing a sigh of relief | OneFootball

South Korean is an all-time Premier League great after decade-long journey that ended with glory in Bilbao

Spurs legend: Heung-min Son

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Thomas Frank predicted Heung-min Son would have “a beautiful ending to a beautiful story” - and so it proved.

Son had to hold back the tears after his final appearance in a Spurs shirt against Newcastle on Sunday, with his move to LAFC expected to be completed this week.

Son captained Spurs to their Europa League triumph in Bilbao last season

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“Beautiful moments and it was really emotional,” said Son. “It was a perfect moment. I think sharing this beautiful moment is something I will never forget. Spurs will always be in my heart.”

Son lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao served as a fitting final chapter to his Spurs career.

It was the crowning moment for the 33-year-old, who became one of the most feared forwards in world football during his time with Spurs.

Son has described his ten years at Spurs as “incredible” - and the numbers back it up. In 454 appearances, he scored 173 goals and registered 101 assists.

He is fifth on the list of the club’s all-time top scorers, with fourth-placed Martin Chivers just one goal ahead of him.

Son scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Spurs

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Son endeared himself to Spurs fans by delivering when it mattered most, even scoring the first-ever goal at the opening of the club’s new stadium in 2019.

During Spurs’ run to the Champions League final in that same year, he scored four goals in the knockout stages - more than any other player in the squad.

Three of those came against Manchester City in the quarter-finals, a side Son had an outstanding record against.

Indeed, in 21 matches against City, he managed eight goals and five assists. Few players have caused Pep Guardiola more headaches than Son.

Spurs fans may be thankful that tally never reached nine, however, and it is hard not to wonder how differently Son would be remembered had he scored in that key match two seasons ago which could have handed Arsenal the title.

That was not quite a sliding doors moment, but Son certainly had one following his first year at Spurs. After scoring just eight goals in 40 games, he was ready to go back to the Bundesliga.

“I came close to leaving,” Son told Standard Sport in 2019. “I went to the gaffer’s office and told him I didn’t feel comfortable and wanted to leave to Germany.”

Son scored some big goals for Spurs - including this one against Manchester City in their run to the 2019 Champions League final

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Mauricio Pochettino persuaded him to stay, and he went on to become a pillar of the Argentine’s side.

The biggest compliment you can pay him is that Son may rival Harry Kane as one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players - not least because he stayed and helped end their trophy drought.

Much of that side Pochettino built was broken up after he left, but Son remained, and his loyalty was rewarded.

In the modern era, it is rare to find a player that stays somewhere for ten years - especially when they are not an academy product of that club. Yet Son was never seriously linked with a move away, even when his form merited it.

During the 2022-23 season, he was the Premier League’s joint top scorer with Mohamed Salah after scoring 23 goals. After a disappointing first season, Son had six years in a row where he scored at least 18 goals in all competitions, winning Tottenham’s Player of the Season three times.

Son was the Spurs captain who ended their 17-year wait for a trophy

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That was when Son was at the peak of his powers, though, and now feels like the right time for him to leave.

His tally of 11 goals last season was his worst for Spurs since his debut campaign and during Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final it became clear his influence on the pitch was waning.

Off the pitch, however, Son remained integral. As captain, his leadership and popularity in the dressing room were beyond question.

Son leaves Spurs on his own terms, and on a high. Not many in football are afforded that luxury, but if anyone deserves it, it’s Son.