Son Heung-min’s emotional farewell from Tottenham Hotspur included a touching guard of honor and a hilarious encounter with 7’2″ MMA fighter Choi Hong-man, who playfully cradled the Spurs legend like a child. Son is set to join LAFC after a decade with Tottenham.
Son Heung-min's final appearance for Tottenham Hotspur was filled with emotion, as expected, but it also included a lighthearted moment that only Korea could provide. The Spurs legend played 65 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly held in Seoul, marking the end of his illustrious 10-year career with the club.
As Son left the field, he received a touching guard of honor from both sets of players and was visibly moved, wiping away tears in front of his adoring home crowd. With over 450 appearances, numerous goals, and a long-awaited European trophy under his belt, the 33-year-old is now poised to join MLS side Los Angeles FC. However, before the heartfelt farewells, there was a surreal and amusing interlude.
A day before the match, Son and his Tottenham teammates were treated to a cultural welcome in the South Korean capital, where they had the opportunity to meet local celebrity Choi Hong-man. The former MMA fighter, known as the “Korean Colossus,” stands at an imposing 7'2" and weighs 160kg. Naturally, he used his hulking frame to playfully pick up Son, cradling him like a small child, much to the forward's delight. Choi later engaged in mock fights with other Spurs players, wrapping Pape Matar Sarr in a bearhug and leaving Richarlison visibly stunned by his immense size.
A prominent figure in the K-1 and MMA scene during the 2000s, Choi famously battled heavyweight icons Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop, and was even briefly scheduled to face Brock Lesnar before a medical issue led to the cancellation of the bout. With his towering stature and wrestling background, it's intriguing to imagine Choi Hong-man trying his hand at football. While he may not possess Son's finesse, his 7'2" frame would make him an unstoppable force in the air – picture the challenge of marking him during a corner kick. Peter Crouch, take note.