Tottenham Hotspur captain Son to leave club after a decade – DW – 08/02/2025
Son Heung-min, the 33-year-old South Korean captain of Tottenham Hotspur, will end his 10-year spell with the Premier League soccer club this summer, he said on Saturday.
Son did not disclose his destination but local British media speculate he will move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.
In May this year, Son led the team to their first trophy in 17 years, winning the Europe League final over Manchester United. However, the captain himself suffered a series of leg injuries and recorded a poor season when compared to his previous performance.
"I have decided to leave the team this summer," Son said at a press conference, appearing to be holding back tears. The announcement came a day before Spurs' pre-season friendly match against Newcastle United played in Seoul, the capital of Son's homeland of South Korea, on Sunday.
"I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change — 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age," "I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man," he said, adding that the club was helping him with the decision.
Winning the Europe League trophy played a big part in his thinking, Son told the media.
"I did my best on the field and off the field, and by winning the Europa League, I thought I'd done everything I could and achieved," he added.
Son moved from South Korea to Germany at the age of 16 to play in the Bundesliga before relocating to the UK to join the Spurs. He has played over 450 games with the Spurs and scored 173 goals for the UK team.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
Germany legend Thomas Müller signs for Vancouver Whitecaps – DW – 08/06/2025
Thomas Müller has signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. It's an unorthodox move for arguably one of the most effective unorthodox players in football history. When Thomas Müller announced recently in an Instagram post that his next career move would be "across the big pond," it was quickly reported that the bright lights of Los Angeles would be his destination. However, the soon to be 36-year-old, who has made a career of surprising opponents on the pitch, caught nobody off guard by announcing on Wednesday that he was indeed moving to the Pacific west coast — but north of the 49th parallel to Vancouver. The move had been Major League Soccer's worst-kept secret for days. "Thomas is a world-class player — the ultimate "Raumdeuter" ("space interpreter"] — known for his elite chance creation, unmatched spatial awareness, and relentless off-the-ball movement," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC CEO and sporting director, in a press release. "This is a statement signing by our club and our ownership — a transformative moment for our club and our city." In the same statement released by the Whitecaps, Müller said he had heard great things about Vancouver and was coming to the city to win. "I've had great conversations with Axel Schuster and (head coach) Jesper Sorensen, and now I can't wait to play in front of the supporters and to see all of the fans come out to BC Place as we head towards the playoffs." It's hard to overstate how much this will mean to Whitecaps supporters, who haven't been accustomed to their club splashing the cash like Canadian rivals Toronto FC and CF Montreal. In his six years in Vancouver, Schuster has earned a reputation as a bargain hunter, often preferring to sign young players with ample upside. Quietly, the former Mainz and Schalke man has built what is looking like a contender, with the Whitecaps now in second place in the Western Conference of the Major League Soccer which combines US and Canadian teams. Now people are wondering: Could Müller be just the man to push "The Village" over the top? While Müller has never been the fastest or strongest player, he's famously made a career out of being in the right place at the right time — more often than not. As Schuster alluded to, this is why he's been dubbed the "Raumdeuter" for his ability to manipulate space on the field of play. In that sense, there are few teams in the world that wouldn't benefit from his in-game intelligence — as Canadian football pundit Jordan Wilson noted on recently. "He's so cerebral. He knows what he needs to do, he knows what he needs to give. He'll blend into any squad, especially Whitecaps', quickly," said Wilson. "I think he would be the perfect person, profile, attitude, personality to come into that side." Another nickname Müller has been given is "Radio Müller," because of his incessant chatter on the field. The combination of his style of play and leadership creates the sense he has more to offer than just playing out the final chapter of his career. There is, however, no denying that last season at Bayern he played the fewest Bundesliga minutes of his entire career. The key, it seems, will be to make the most of Müller in short bursts. While Müller's contract will only take him through to the end of the 2026 MLS season, his impact off the field could be longer lasting. Famous for making jokes and laughing regularly, Müller's arrival into the Whitecaps dressing room will be memorable. Both for Bayern Munich and Germany over the years, Müller has built a brand around his jovial, down-to-earth personality. With nearly 15 million Instagram followers, Müller is popular across the world and his presence alone has helped both Bayern and the Bundesliga to grow in recent years. There is also Müller's wealth of experience, as a World Cup and two-time Champions League winner. He has made the third-most appearances (163) of all time in Europe's most prestigious competition and over 750 for Bayern Munich. This is why Wilson sees the addition of Müller as a huge opportunity for a squad with an average age of under 26 to learn from a veteran player. "He's a winner," Wilson said. "He knows how he wants to play football, and I think he will get the best out of the players around him." However, some have cautioned that MLS history has shown that bringing in a European superstar is no guarantee of success. Toronto FC are perhaps the best example of how wrong a signing can go. The club parted ways with Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi earlier his month — after both severely underperformed since their signings three years ago. And they are by no means the only Europeans who have underwhelmed in MLS. But the consensus in the Canadian media seems to be that Müller's apparent down-to-earth ways promise to be a good fit on the west coast. "Despite all the quality you are getting as a footballer, you are getting everything else off of the pitch in terms of the human being," former Canadian international Amy Walsh noted on the Footy Prime podcast prior to the move. Concerns have also been expressed about Müller's age, particularly give the high-octane style of play favored by Sorensen, the Whitecaps' Danish coach. But Walsh played down these worries too, pointing out that Müller has never relied on pace to be effective. "I think that he will be able through his intelligence, his tactical savvy, his footballing IQ to figure out how to conserve energy," she said. It's been seven years since perhaps the most exciting player ever to come out of Canada, Alphonso Davies, left the Whitecaps to become Müller's teammate at Bayern. Now, Müller has moved in the opposite direction, trading the natural beauty of southern Bavaria on the edge of the Alps for the natural beauty of Vancouver — nestled between the Pacific and the Rockies. On the surface at least, the lighthearted Müller looks like a good fit on the laid-back left coast. For Whitecaps fans, this must be the most exciting news since 1979, when an earlier incarnation of the club became champions of North America.
DW
a day ago
- DW
'Raumdeuter': Thomas Müller signs for Vancouver Whitecaps – DW – 08/06/2025
Thomas Müller has signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. It's an unorthodox move for arguably one of the most effective unorthodox players in football history. When Thomas Müller announced recently in an Instagram post that his next career move would be "across the big pond," it was quickly reported that the bright lights of Los Angeles would be his destination. However, the soon to be 36-year-old, who has made a career of surprising opponents on the pitch, caught nobody off guard by announcing on Wednesday that he was indeed moving to the Pacific west coast — but north of the 49th parallel to Vancouver. The move had been Major League Soccer's worst-kept secret for days. "Thomas is a world-class player – the ultimate "Raumdeuter" (Interpreter of space) – known for his elite chance creation, unmatched spatial awareness, and relentless off-the-ball movement," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC CEO & sporting director. "This is a statement signing by our club and our ownership – a transformative moment for our club and our city." In the same statement released by the Whitecaps, Müller said he had heard great things about Vancouver and was coming to the city to win. "I've had great conversations with Axel Schuster and (head coach) Jesper Sorensen, and now I can't wait to play in front of the supporters and to see all of the fans come out to BC Place as we head towards the playoffs." It's hard to overstate how much this will mean to Whitecaps supporters, who haven't been accustomed to their club splashing the cash like Canadian rivals Toronto FC and CF Montreal. In his six years in Vancouver, Axel Schuster, has earned a reputation as a bargain hunter, often preferring to sign young players with ample upside. Quietly, the former Mainz and Schalke man has built what is looking like a contender, with the Whitecaps now in second place in the Western Conference after the mid-season All-Star break. Now people are wondering: Could Müller be just the man to push "The Village" over the top? While he has never been the fastest or strongest player, he's famously made a career out of being in the right place at the right time — more often than not. As Schuster alluded to, this is why he's been dubbed the "Raumdeuter" for his ability to manipulate space on the field of play. In that sense, there are few teams in the world that wouldn't benefit from his in-game intelligence — as Canadian football pundit Jordan Wilson noted on One Soccer recently. "He's so cerebral. He knows what he needs to do, he knows what he needs to give. He'll blend into any squad, especially Whitecaps', quickly." "I think he would be the perfect person, profile, attitude, personality to come into that side." Another nickname Müller has been given is "Radio Müller," because of his incessant chatter on the field. The combination of his style of play and leadership creates the sense he has more to offer than just playing out the final chapter of his career. There is, however, no denying that last season at Bayern he played the fewest Bundesliga minutes of his entire career. The key, it seems, will be to make the most of Müller in short bursts. While his contract will only take him through to the end of the 2026 MLS season, his impact off the field could be longer lasting. Famous for making jokes and laughing regularly, Müller's arrival into the Whitecaps dressing room will be memorable. Both for Bayern Munich and Germany over the years, Müller has built a brand around his jovial, down-to-earth personality. With nearly 15 million Instagram followers, Müller is popular across the world and his presence alone has helped both Bayern and the Bundesliga to grow in recent years. There is also Müller's wealth of experience. Müller is a World Cup and two-time Champions League winner. He has made the third most appearances (163) of all time in Europe's most prestigious competition and over 750 for Bayern Munich. This is why Wilson sees the addition of Müller as a huge opportunity for a squad with an average age of under 26 to learn from a veteran player. "He's a winner," Wilson said. "He knows how he wants to play football, and I think he will get the best out of the players around him." However, some have cautioned that MLS history has shown that bringing in a European superstar is no guarantee of success. Toronto FC are perhaps the best example of how wrong a signing can go. The club parted ways with Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi earlier his month — after both severely underperformed since their signings three years ago. And they are by no means the only Europeans who have underwhelmed in MLS. But the consensus in the Canadian media seems to be that Müller's apparent down-to-earth ways promise to be a good fit on the west coast. "Despite all the quality you are getting as a footballer, you are getting everything else off of the pitch in terms of the human being," former Canadian international Amy Walsh noted on the Footy Prime podcast prior to the move. Concerns have also been expressed about Müller's age, particularly give the high-octane style of play that the Whitecaps' Danish coach, Jesper Sorensen favors. But Walsh played down these worries too, pointing out that Müller has never relied on pace to be effective. "I think that he will be able through his intelligence, his tactical savvy, his footballing IQ to figure out how to conserve energy," she said. It's been seven years since perhaps the most exciting player ever to come out of Canada, Alphonso Davies, left the Whitecaps to become a teammate of Müller's at Bayern. Now, Müller has moved in the opposite direction trading the natural beauty of southern Bavaria on the edge of the Alps for the natural beauty of Vancouver — nestled between the Rockies. On the surface at least, the light-hearted Müller looks like a good fit on the laid back left coast. For Whitecaps fans, this must be the most exciting news since 1979, when an earlier incarnation of the club became champions of North America.
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Man United Draws Everton, West Ham Blanks Bournemouth In US Tour Finales
Bruno Fernandes scored one goal and set up another as Manchester United drew Everton 2-2 on Sunday to capture the Premier League Summer Series title. The Red Devils earned a final point in Atlanta to top the table with seven in the pre-season friendly tournament, having previously beaten West Ham 2-1 and Bournemouth 4-1 in the round-robin US tour. "It's improving," Fernandes told Sky Sports after the match. "I think the club is doing the best that they can. "We needed more competition for the players that were here. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a little bit more, to have more to do to get into the first 11. I think that's what the club is trying to do, the manager, and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that." Manchester United finished last season 15th in the Premier League, their worst showing since relegation in 1973-74, managing only 11 wins and nine drawn from 38 matches. "I think a lot of people have suffered from this," Fernandes said. "The fans pay more for the tickets and we really appreciate all the efforts they do for us. "So it's up to us now players to repay it on the pitch." Fernandes said the club is working to improve from team and staff to facilities. "It's every detail. Every small thing matters," Fernandes said. "At this football club, you can't do anything wrong on the pitch and off the pitch because it's too big worldwide. "The culture of this club was winning. It was there. And we need to bring back that." Everton's James Tarkowski brought down Amad Diallo in the penalty area and Fernandes blasted in the shot from the spot to lift Man United ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute. French-born Senegalese international Iliman Ndiaye equalized for the Toffees in the 40th minute, tapping in off a pass from Senegal's Idrissa Gana Gueye. Mason Mount, who entered the field barely 10 minutes earlier, took a pass from Fernandes and curled in a shot past Jordan Pickford in the 69th minute to put Manchester United back in front. But Everton pulled level in the 75h minute when a ball directed back by Diallo deflected off Manchester United Ayden Heaven and into the back of the Man United net for an own goal. Manager Ruben Amorim inserted newcomer Bryan Mbeumo into his starting lineup, the arrival from Brentford missing earlier matches to finish pre-season training. Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen scored to lift West Ham United over Bournemouth 2-0 earlier, giving the London side two wins from three matches in the Premier League Summer Series. Spot-on set up passes by Senegalese left back El Hadji Malick Diouf, signed only on July 15, led to both West Ham goals. "Both goals are down to him, the quality that he's got, you can see that," Bowen said of Diouf. "He has only been here a few weeks but you would think he has been here years. "He's humble. He's a brilliant guy for the group and he's obviously a brilliant footballer as well. We're very excited to see what he can continue to do here." Diouf's centering ball found England's Bowen in the box, but he was forced to slide a pass left to German teammate Fullkrug, who fired in a shot from point-blank range in the 24th minute. Bowen found the net in the 67th minute off a Diouf pass. Bournemouth had plenty of chances in the first 15 minutes but the Cherries found the woodwork to squander early opportunities. "What I liked was the character about the group. We didn't have the best start we wanted but we stuck in there," Bowen said.
