Latest news with #JohnThorrington
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Son Heung-min admits LAFC wasn't his first choice
When Son Heung-min was finally allowed to speak, some 22 minutes after the press conference began, the South Korean national team captain admitted that LAFC wasn't his first choice, but that he's arrived in Los Angeles to win. (Photo by) Son Heung-min was unveiled as a Los Angeles Football Club player on Wednesday 6th August, local time. The club had teased the unveiling the day before with word of a "major announcement" circulating at the Leagues Cup match the night before, a match that Son was seen watching from the VIP box. That major announcement was that the club have signed Son Heung-min on a contract until 2027 with an option to extend to 2029, taking him to his 35th or potential 37th birthday. Those in attendance and those watching the live stream on YouTube were made to wait for Son to be finally allowed to speak, but when he did, he expressed his delight at signing for the club. "I feel like my dream came true. Thank you to the group of owners who have worked hard for me to come to this team. Honestly, this team wasn't my first choice. But when I first heard from John Thorrington after the season, my mind, my mind completely changed. He showed me a direction to go in this team. Now I'm here, and I'm happy. I'm happy to see Korean fans." "The atmosphere in the stadium was really huge. Watching the Leagues Cup game in person the day before. I wanted to run right away and show my skills. I just thank everyone who worked so hard for me to come to this team. I'm here to win. I'll try to show you something exciting." Why LAFC? Even before arriving in LA, before departing Korea, Son went on record saying that he decision had been made with the World Cup in mind. "[It] could be my last World Cup, so I thought it should be an environment where I can put everything into it." Those leading the press conference emphasised that LA is home to the most Koreans outside of Seoul, and Son acknowledged that this was a major factor. "There are many reasons why LA and LAFC was a destination for me. As a Korean to know that Korea Town has so many Koreans. I'm proud of this club and I will do the best I can to represent this city." The move also represents a new challenge. "Just because I had a successful career in Europe doesn't mean I will here. So I want to see this as a new challenge and do my best and all that. I want to give back to the ownership and the team and the club, and do the best I can and leave when the time comes as a legend of the club." He's also determined to add more medals to his collection before he leaves MLS. "I'm here to win, and I will perform, and I will definitely show you something exciting. I will definitely show some exciting football, and we definitely will have success." Why did he leave Spurs? "I felt like I gave it my all. I felt like I needed a new chapter. You could say I'm old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, good qualities. I'm here to perform, but also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. I can't wait to meet all the players, the team."
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Son Heung-min leaves Tottenham Spurs after 10 years for LAFC in record US$26m deal
LONDON, Aug 7 — LAFC hailed the signing of a 'global icon' on Wednesday after confirming the arrival of South Korea star Son Heung-min from Tottenham. The 33-year-old will reportedly cost a Major League Soccer record US$26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name. An emotional Son announced on Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League as captain. He leaves as Tottenham's fifth highest goalscorer of all-time with 173 goals in 454 appearances. 'Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football,' said LAFC co-president & general manager John Thorrington. 'We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. 'Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community – both on and off the pitch.' Son is set to be presented at a press conference in Los Angeles at 2 pm local time (2100 GMT) His imminent arrival drew crowds on Tuesday to Los Angeles International Airport with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support. Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham. 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade,' said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. 'Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the club and all over the world. 'The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur.' — AFP
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Los Angeles FC introduces South Korean superstar Son Heung-min amid excitement and ambition
'What can I say? Dream come true. LA, what a city,' said Son, who will wear No. 7 in black and gold. Advertisement Son had suitors from around the globe after he decided to leave Tottenham, and he said the decision to join LAFC initially wasn't obvious. He came around to the idea of moving to MLS after conversations with LAFC general manager John Thorrington, who sold Son on the 8-year-old club's ambition to be an international brand and the most successful club in North America. 'If I'm honest, it was not my first choice,' Son said. 'But [from the] first call when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be. Right now, I'm here. I'm more than happy.' Advertisement Son laughingly said he was also pitched aggressively by Hugo Lloris, his longtime teammate at Tottenham who is now LAFC's starting goalkeeper. Son is South Korea's most popular athlete, and he is widely considered to be the greatest Asian soccer player in history. He said he already feels at home in Los Angeles, which has the world's largest ethnic Korean population outside Korea and a robust base of soccer fans from all backgrounds who appreciate his accomplishments. Son's introductory news conference was attended by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, South Korea's consul general, several additional politicians, dozens of Korean journalists and dozens of drum-beating, singing fans from the LAFC supporters' group famous for its relentless, raucous noise during matches. Son already got a taste of LAFC fans' passion Tuesday when he attended the club's Leagues Cup victory over Tigres. 'On behalf of millions of Angelenos and soccer fans around the world — Sonny, welcome to Los Angeles,' Bass said. 'This is a moment that will be remembered in the city for generations to come.' Son joins a lengthy list of soccer stars from European leagues who moved to Hollywood for a second act in their careers. Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Olivier Giroud have all suited up for LAFC, while the crosstown rival LA Galaxy have welcomed even more European superstars, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane and Marco Reus. Son did not appear to be in decline during the past season as Tottenham's captain, and he said he is in good game shape after participating in Spurs' summer tour of Asia. He did not set a date for his LAFC debut, but it could be this month. Advertisement 'I just felt like I need a new chapter, I need a new challenge, and I choose LAFC,' Son said. 'I think we can say I'm old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, and still have a good quality. I'm here to perform, but also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. That's why we are here.'
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Son Heung-min says LAFC 'changed my heart' after MLS unveiling
Son Heung-min admitted that LAFC was initially 'not my first choice' as he sought a new club earlier this year, but said Wednesday that LAFC general manager John Thorrington 'changed my mind' on their very first phone call after Son's 10th and final season with Tottenham concluded this spring. 'He changed my heart, he changed my brain,' Son said at an introductory news conference in Los Angeles. 'He showed me the destination where I should be.' Advertisement And, after saying he was 'more than happy' to be here, Son promised: 'I'm here to win … I will perform, and I will definitely show you something exciting. And we definitely will have success.' Son arrived in Southern California on Tuesday to finalize a deal that now stands as the most expensive inbound transfer in MLS history. He took in LAFC's Leagues Cup game against Tigres, a 2-1 win on Tuesday night, from a BMO Stadium suite. He received a warm and raucous reception from supporters when he was shown on stadium video boards and welcomed as an 'LAFC forward.' He reciprocated with applause, and said a day later: 'I just wanted to run onto the pitch and show my performance.' Wednesday, though, was his official unveiling. A couple hours after Tottenham and LAFC both announced the deal, his likeness beamed off LAFC HQ outside the stadium, alongside a welcome message in three languages: Korean, English and Spanish. Inside the stadium's Field Club, he was welcomed to a stage by chanting supporters, The 3252. He sat alongside Thorrington and LAFC managing owner Bennett Rosenthal, in front of media and various 'special guests,' including Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, who called the signing 'a moment that will be remembered in the city for generations to come' and 'officially' declared Son 'an Angeleno.' More than 20 minutes into the event, when Son finally got a chance to speak, he called the occasion a 'dream come true.' 'LA,' he said, 'what a city.' One of the attractions was the estimated 320,000 Koreans who live in greater Los Angeles. Son said he was 'so, so excited seeing all the Korean fans outside.' There were also many thousands watching from afar, including on YouTube, where Korean comments peppered the online chat seemingly every second. Many of the introductions and remarks onstage were translated into Korean by an interpreter. Advertisement When asked why he signed with LAFC — on a deal through 2027, with options for 2028 and the first half of 2029, according to the club — Son said through the interpreter that there were 'many reasons,' and the strength of the local Korean community was one of them. 'As a Korean, to know that Koreatown here in Los Angeles has so many Koreans, here in this country, I'm very proud to be a part of the club and the city,' he said through the interpreter. 'And I'll make them proud with my performance.' Son had previously announced his departure from Tottenham. At a news conference last weekend in Korea, ahead of Tottenham's preseason game in Seoul, he called it 'the most difficult decision I have made in my career.' The 'main reason' for it, he explained, 'is that I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.' At the time, he did not say where he'd find that fresh challenge. Wednesday was his first chance to explain why he picked LAFC (over interest from Saudi Arabia, and perhaps elsewhere). He said that Hugo Lloris, his former teammate and captain for nine seasons at Tottenham, helped recruit him. 'Hugo was helping and advising about how great Los Angeles is,' Son said. But he clarified that he is not just here to enjoy the city. 'Obviously I'm here to perform,' Son said. 'But also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement.' He is 33 years old, and struggled over the latter half of the 2024-25 season. 'I think we can say I'm old,' he said with a hint of a smile. 'But I still have good physicality, good legs, and still I have good quality.' He later added in Korean, via an interpreter: 'My fitness is great, as I just went through preseason. I came here to play soccer, and I'm ready to play. But there's some preparation work to be done, and I'll work with the coaching staff and others to get on the pitch as soon as possible. Advertisement 'Just because I had a successful career in Europe, doesn't mean I will do here. So, I want to see this as a new challenge, and do my best. All that I've received, I want to give back to the ownership and the team and the club, and do the best I can, and leave when the time comes as a legend of the club.' Son, upon receipt of his P-1 visa, should be eligible to debut this Saturday against the Chicago Fire (8:30 p.m. ET, Apple MLS Season Pass). With LAFC's next three games on the road, his home debut won't come until September at the earliest — either Sept. 1 vs. San Diego FC or Sept. 21 vs. Real Salt Lake. LAFC currently sits in sixth place in the Western Conference, 10 points behind San Diego, but with two or three games in hand on each of the five teams above it. It is in position to qualify for the playoffs, and perhaps to contend for MLS Cup — which would be the fifth trophy in the club's eight-year history. (Top photo of LAFC owner Bennett Rosenthal (l) and GM John Thorrington (r) flanking Son Heung-min: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Global icon' Son Heung-min joins LAFC from Tottenham
LAFC hailed the signing of a "global icon" on Wednesday after confirming the arrival of South Korea star Son Heung-min from Tottenham. The 33-year-old will reportedly cost a Major League Soccer record $26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name. An emotional Son announced on Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League as captain. He leaves as Tottenham's fifth highest goalscorer of all-time with 173 goals in 454 appearances. 'Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football,' said LAFC co-president & general manager John Thorrington. "We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. "Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community – both on and off the pitch." Son is set to be presented at a press conference in Los Angeles at 2 pm local time (2100 GMT) His imminent arrival drew crowds on Tuesday to Los Angeles International Airport with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support. Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham. 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade," said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. "Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the club and all over the world. "The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur." kca/nr
