Son Heung-min Leaves Tottenham: Frank Calls Him A Spurs Legend In Every Aspect

Thomas Frank praised Son Heung-min, calling him a Spurs legend after the announcement of his departure from Tottenham this summer. Son, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for £22 million, confirmed his exit before a friendly against Newcastle United. The 33-year-old is linked with MLS side Los Angeles FC and will captain Spurs one last time in Seoul.

Son's impact at Tottenham has been significant, with 454 appearances and 173 goals across all competitions over ten years. In the Premier League, he scored 127 goals, tying with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for the 16th most goals. Since his debut season in 2015-16, only Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane have been involved in more Premier League goals than Son.

The South Korean international is among just 11 players to achieve over 70 goals and assists in the top flight. Frank expressed disappointment about not working with Son next season but acknowledged his legendary status at Tottenham. "For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player," Frank said. "He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect."

Frank faces the challenge of replacing Son as he begins his first season managing Tottenham. He sees this as an opportunity for other players like Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, and Mathys Tel to step up on the left side. "When a player is leaving a team, other players have a chance to shine," Frank added.

The match against Newcastle wraps up Spurs' pre-season tour of Asia. They previously defeated Arsenal 3-2 in their first north London derby outside England. Frank's team remains unbeaten ahead of the 2025-26 season with a win against Reading and draws against Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

Frank encouraged his squad to build on their performance against Arsenal when facing Newcastle. This match serves as preparation for their upcoming UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain on August 13. "I'm really looking forward to it," said Frank about facing Newcastle.

"Newcastle are a very good team, very well coached by Eddie Howe and his coaching staff," Frank continued. "Hopefully we can build on the performance from Arsenal." He aims for improvements in high pressure situations and attacking phases during their upcoming matches.