Could Son Heung-min retire in Korea? 'Let's see what happens'

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Could Son Heung-min retire in Korea? 'Let's see what happens'

Published: 30 Jul. 2024, 17:59

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, right, poses with Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou during a pre-game press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's Coupang Play Series match between Spurs and Team K League. [YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has yet to decide when or where he wants to retire, with his eyes set on bringing success to Spurs, but he's not ruling out the K League.

“I am still very interested in the K League because all of my friends are playing in the K League,” Son said Tuesday about whether he is considering finishing his career in the K League during a pre-game press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul. “But if I will play in the K league? I don’t know. You never know.

"I can’t give you an answer right now. But I’ll focus where I am now, and as I said last year before we start the season. We have a lot of things to do in the Premier League, so I want to prove as much as I can and be a better player, so you never know, and I can’t give you an answer, but let’s see what happens.”

The Tottenham captain, 32, is also a regular pick at the Korean national team with 127 caps under his belt, but he has never played in the K League.

After making his professional debut at Bundesliga club Hamburger SV in 2010, he had a successful stint with Hamburger and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany before joining Spurs in 2015.

Since his Premier League debut, he has racked up 162 goals and 84 assists across 408 matches for Tottenham, becoming the fifth-highest goal scorer for the London side and winning the 2021-22 Premier League Golden Boot.

Despite remarkable individual stats, he has yet to lift a single trophy at Spurs as the club has fallen short in England and Europe.

He has yet to publicly say when or where he might retire.

Son attended Tuesday’s press conference with Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of a Coupang Play Series match between Spurs and Team K League on Wednesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

The Coupang Play Series is a preseason exhibition series featuring European teams and Team K League — consisting of 22 players from the K League picked by K League fans and coaches for Wednesday’s match against Spurs.

This year marks Spurs second appearance in the series after featuring in its inaugural year in 2022.

After Wednesday’s match against Team K League, Spurs will play Bayern Munich at the same venue on Saturday as part of the series.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]