Son Heung-min’s final appearance in a Tottenham uniform came with all the expected emotion – and included a humorous incident that could only happen in Korea.
The Spurs icon played for 65 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Newcastle United during a pre-season friendly in Seoul, marking the conclusion of his illustrious 10-year stint with the club. As he exited the pitch, Son received an emotional guard of honour from both teams and was clearly touched, shedding tears before an appreciative home audience.
After more than 450 appearances, countless goals, and a long-awaited European trophy, the 33-year-old is now set to join MLS side Los Angeles FC.
But before the serious farewells came the surreal.
The day before the match, Son and his Tottenham colleagues were warmly welcomed in the South Korean capital, where they encountered local celebrity and giant figure, Choi Hong-man. The former MMA combatant, dubbed the “Korean Colossus,” is 7’2″ tall and weighs 160kg.
Choi used his massive stature humorously by lifting Son and cradling him like a child, much to the forward’s delight. He then playfully engaged with other Spurs players, holding Pape Matar Sarr in a bearhug and leaving Richarlison visibly amazed by his enormous size.
An established name in the K-1 and MMA circles of the 2000s, Choi is known for fighting heavyweight legends like Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop, and was once slated to face Brock Lesnar until a medical issue halted the match.
With his impressive size and wrestling skills, it’s fun to imagine Choi Hong-man trying his hand at football. Although he might not possess Son’s skill, at 7’2″, he’d be a formidable aerial presence – envision the challenge of defending him during a corner kick.
Peter Crouch, eat your heart out.
