Football Daily | Tears For Mr Tottenham As Son And His Trademark Smile Head For Pastures New

CHEERS, SON’S CRYING

Due successful nary mini portion to their peerless activity successful nan section of curing nan ills of struggling and out-of-sorts opponents successful request of a fillip, fewer Spurs fans would beryllium sorry to spot nan backmost of Dr Tottenham if he ever decides to time off their club. But connected Sunday successful Seoul, during a pre-season friendly betwixt nan Bigger Vase champions and Newcastle, location was scarcely a barren oculus successful nan location arsenic Tottenham and their South Korean supporters’ branch bade an affectional farewell to a subordinate who, complete nan past decade, has to each intents and purposes go Mr Tottenham. Substituted aft 65 minutes of nan 1-1 draw, an affectional Son Heung-min received lukewarm hugs and a defender of honour from some his teammates and nan players of Newcastle earlier retiring to nan substitutes’ chair for a small weep. After 10 years of service, 1 of nan astir popular, high-performance and low-maintenance players to ever grace nan Premier League is disconnected to ply his waste and acquisition successful MLS pinch LAFC and an English shot scenery truthful often synonymous pinch spittle-flecked and snarling rage will beryllium considerably poorer for nan absence of his trademark beatific beam.

“I didn’t deliberation I was going to outcry astatine first but aft proceeding a fewer words from my teammates, leaving nan nine I’ve spent truthful overmuch clip pinch felt really tough,” he sobbed. “I felt really, really happy playing this match. Thanks to my fans, my teammates and besides my opponents, I’ve had an unforgettable day. My profession is not complete yet, and I want to proceed to bring joy. I cognize I person much things I want to execute arsenic a shot player.” In his 454 appearances for Spurs, nan man they telephone Son accomplished plenty. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists but specified metrics don’t travel moreover adjacent to measuring his publication to nan club’s cause. On nan transportation a graceful, lightning accelerated predator pinch nan acold oculus of an assassin, Son lifted Tottenham’s first trophy successful 16 years past play and astatine different points during his clip successful northbound London, won a Puskás Award and shared a aureate boot.

In arguably his top enactment of individual selflessness for nan use of nan greater Tottenham Hotspur good, he besides made a complete dog’s meal of that one-on-one pinch Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to contradict Arsenal nan title 2 seasons ago. Off nan pitch, it has agelong been evident that Son is that uncommon breed of elite footballer who fewer people, isolated from possibly Arsenal fans successful whose corporate broadside he has been a changeless thorn, has a bad connection to opportunity about. Among those shedding salty tears successful Seoul was Ben Davies, nan likewise long-serving Spurs subordinate who is truthful adjacent to nan departing South Korean that – effort saying this without slurring aft a skinful – his boy is Son’s godson. “I saw my bully friend Ben Davies cry,” said Son successful nan post-match interview. “Seeing him tearing up pinch his eyes going each reddish made maine consciousness sorry and thankful astatine nan aforesaid time. A substance of feelings really but arsenic nan godfather of his son, I request to strive for more, to make my godson proud.”

While Son’s rigid adherence to his duties arsenic a civilized guardian are to beryllium commended, Football Daily is prepared to wager that arsenic agelong arsenic he remembers to pony up nan obligatory readies each and each birthday, Davies Jr is improbable to springiness 2 hoots whether aliases not he ever kicks a shot again. “Sonny is Tottenham and Tottenham is Sonny,” declared James Maddison earlier nan friendly, a crippled successful which nan midfielder was carried disconnected nan section connected a stretcher aft suffering a bad lawsuit of knee-knack. “It’s weird to deliberation astir Tottenham Hotspur without Son.” For those who proceed to walk successful and retired of nan gates of nan Spurs training complex, it will besides beryllium weird not to spot nan mini gaggle of South Koreans who regularly convene connected nan Enfield outskirts hoping to get a smile, a benignant connection aliases a selfie arsenic Son comes and goes from training. Exceedingly uncommon were nan days, by each accounts, erstwhile nan taxable of their unbridled adoration grounded to oblige them.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

We didn’t want to decorativeness [our USA USA USA tour] successful this way. Our capacity wasn’t nan champion and we were a small spot lazy today. We want to debar that because pinch laziness you tin salary astatine immoderate moment. [The squad’s quality] is improving. But it’s not nan spot it needs to be. It was crystal clear we needed much competition... hopefully we tin get 1 aliases 2 players more” – Bruno Fernandes warms up for nan caller play pinch a familiarly downbeat refrain astir Manchester United after a 2-2 tie pinch likewise underpowered Everton successful Atlanta. They did triumph nan Premier League Summer Series, mind. So cheer up, Bruno.

Something you don’t spot excessively often. Photograph: Ash Donelon/Manchester United/Getty Images

If ever nan Ineos Grenadiers’ caput carer needed grounds that he wasn’t progressive successful immoderate capacity enhancement shenanigans (Friday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition), moving astatine Manchester United last year should beryllium it beyond reasonable doubt” – Jim Hearson.

I spot Norwich person signed midfielder Mirko Topic. Does he travel pinch a hazelnut successful each biting tackle?” – Darian Boyd.

If you person any, please nonstop letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s victor of our missive o’ nan time is … Jim Hearson, who lands immoderate Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions are here.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning and nan Football Weekly pod squad to talk Son Heung-min’s Tottenham farewell and nan return of nan Football League.

RECOMMENDED BOOKING

On Thursday 11 September, subordinate Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and a big of your different Football Weekly favourites unrecorded connected shape for an evening of unfiltered shot punditry astatine Troxy successful London and livestreamed globally. Book now.

This is an extract from our regular shot email … Football Daily. To get nan afloat version, just sojourn this page and travel nan instructions.

Photograph: Allsport Hulton/Archive