Son Heung-min (33, LAFC) returned to a North London night, and Tottenham Hotspur once again proved the power of its home ground in front of the 'living legend.' In the match that welcomed the forward who had been with them for a long time, Tottenham routed Slavia Prague 3-0 to extend its unbeaten home run in European competitions to 23 matches.
Son Heung-min received a standing ovation from about 47,000 spectators as soon as he appeared on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch on the 10th (Korea time).
Having moved to LAFC in August and unable to say goodbye to local fans in person, he returned with the greeting "You haven't forgotten me, have you?"
When Son Heung-min said "It really was an amazing 10 years. Thank you. This place will always be my home. I will never forget you," the stadium was filled with roaring cheers. Tottenham also created a mural for Son Heung-min on the outer wall of a building near the stadium, and club legend Ledley King presented Son with a plaque of appreciation, officially marking an era's farewell.
Earlier, another club legend, Gareth Bale, sent a congratulatory message via video, saying "Sonny, I want to celebrate the time you spent at Tottenham more than anyone. Players who finish with a trophy are rare. You fully deserve applause. Enjoy today to the fullest."
On the pitch, Tottenham looked stronger in front of Son Heung-min. Tottenham seized momentum through an own goal in the 26th minute of the first half, and in the second half, Kudus and Gavi Simons each converted penalty kicks in succession to decide the result.
With this win, Tottenham rose to ninth with 11 points in the Champions League group stage, reviving hopes of direct qualification to the round of 16. They also maintained an overwhelming home unbeaten record in UEFA-organized competitions of 23 matches (19 wins, 4 draws).
The 10-year record Son Heung-min left behind is hard to describe with simple numbers: 454 appearances, 173 goals, fifth in the club's all-time scoring list, Premier League golden boot winner, the Puskás Award, and the UEL title that ended Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought.
This visit was the final farewell for all those years: the mural, the cheers, the trophy, and the 3-0 victory. An unfinished farewell was completed as a full parting.
Even though Son Heung-min has left, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was still his "home."
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