
7ft 2in South Korean MMA star BICEP CURLS Son Heung-min - as the Spurs captain prepares to bow out in front of his home country
On Saturday morning Son announced that he would leave Spurs after a decade in north London to seek out a new challenge.
The 33-year-old has been linked with MLS side Los Angeles FC and is understood to favour a move stateside as his time in the Premier League comes to a close.
On Sunday Spurs face Newcastle in a pre-season clash at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, with a sell-out crowd of 66,000 fans expected to be in attendance.
However, before he can bow out in front of his countrymen Son and his Tottenham team-mates were treated to some pre-match festivities in the South Korean capital, including meeting a bonafide giant.
As the team were completing media duties, Son met up with combat sports star Choi Hong-man.
최홍만한테 안기니까 웅민이도 아담해진다 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/ZTs2JmxYIk
— 김미키 (@_mickyvdven) August 2, 2025
Son Heung-min was manhandled by South Korean MMA star Choi Hong-man ahead of Tottenham's clash with Spurs
The 7ft 2in 2005 K-1 Seoul Grand Prix winner subsequently proceeded to lift Son into his arms and cradle the winger like a baby.
An embarrassed Son could only hide his laughter as the assembled photographers rushed to get a shot of the bizarre sight.
Choi was later seen play fighting with some of Son's team-mates including Pape Mata Sarr, who was trapped in a bearhug by the 350lb colossus.
Despite his extensive kickboxing background the 44-year-old Choi is most famous for his forays into MMA between 2006 and 2016.
During that time Choi fought arguably the two greatest heavyweight fighters of the era, Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop.
The 44-year-old was also scheduled to be Brock Lesnar's first MMA opponent when the WWE transitioned from the world of professional wrestling in 2007.
A pre-fight medical screening ultimately scuppered the bout however due to a tumor to his pituitary gland that was later removed through surgery.
The friendly between Spurs and Newcastle kicks off tomorrow at 12pm BST.
Thomas Frank hailed Son's contributions for the north London club ahead of his departure
Speaking ahead of the game Tottenham boss Thomas Frank heaped praise on his departing captain.
'I think it's very clear,' Frank said. 'It's no secret that Sonny will start and will lead the team out as captain.
'I'm looking forward to that in many ways and if it is to be the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it in South Korea, his home country in front of his home fans.
'That could potentially be a beautiful ending. First and foremost with the biggest respect to Sonny and what he's done for the club.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Son Heung-min agrees £15m transfer after confirming Tottenham exit
Son Heung-min has agreed to join a new club after making 'the most difficult decision' of his career by leaving Tottenham. The 33-year-old announced in an emotional press conference on Saturday that he had decided to leave Spurs this summer. Son has spent a decade at the north London club, making 454 appearances for Tottenham since his move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He captained the club to their Europa League win last season as Tottenham clinched their first trophy in 17 years. 'I came to north London as a kid – a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English,' Son said. 'Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.' Son has agreed to join MLS side Los Angeles FC since deciding to leave Tottenham, who hired Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou's replacement in June. LAFC are now in advanced talks with Tottenham over a fee for Son, with a £15m deal in the works. Son's former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris already plays for Los Angeles, who are managed by former USA defender Steve Cherundolo. New Tottenham boss Frank described Son as a 'true Spurs legend' and 'one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League'. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans,' the ex-Brentford manager said. 'It could be a beautiful ending.' Tottenham face Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday afternoon as they continue their preparations for the 2025-26 season. Discussing his imminent exit from Spurs, Son added: 'Before we start the press conference, I just want to share the information that I've decided to leave the club in the summer. 'I love players that give so much to a football club. He's never been on the front pages, never been a problem, never disrupted the camp, played second fiddle to Harry Kane for long periods, but was absolutely pivotal to his partnership with him. 'Ten years, perfect. He's lost half a yard, that has been detrimental to him as a player. But when I look at him, I just think what a great pro. If you're any manager, Thomas Frank would love to have kept him and worked with him, but I think he's done the right move. 'I mean, last year, watching him coming off the bench so often and even Spurs fans saying that someone's not quite the same player. He's been an absolute legend at the football club. And seemingly just a great lad to be around. 'He's been a true professional that fans should just applaud. And I think it's perfect timing for him to go on and pass a new challenge for him at 33.' Former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino speaking on talkSPORT 'And respectfully, the club is helping me with my decision. So I just want to share this information before we start the press conference. 'It was the most difficult decision of my football career. I've been here ten years at a beautiful club with beautiful fans and having such amazing memories. 'And after all that, it was so hard to make this decision. But as I said, I feel like I need a new environment and to push myself. More Trending 'And to get more of me, I feel like I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a lot of time when you're thinking about it. 'So and I came to London as a kid. 23 years old, a very young age [and] a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English. 'And [I'm] leaving this club as a grown man. This is a very, very proud moment. So I just want to say thank you to all of the Spurs fans that gave me so much love. 'I felt like it was my home. But yeah, it was, it was one of the toughest decisions I've ever made.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Chelsea making Alejandro Garnacho wait with transfer priority on another forward MORE: Bruno Fernandes responds to new transfer offer to leave Manchester United MORE: Arsenal in talks to sign Jeremy Jacquet to replace £17.6m star


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
First Ugandan national joins women's rugby league team in York
A female rugby player has made history as the first Ugandan national to sign for a women's super league Lekuru, 25, made the trip to North Yorkshire from Uganda earlier this month to join York Valkyrie, which has well-established sporting links with her home country. Ms Lekuru, who plays as a centre or backrower, said she'd found "another family" at the club since relocating, and described the move as dream come true."I feel like I'm lifting up the flag of Uganda and I don't take it for granted. I feel like I've really achieved my goals now, by being here in York," she said. York Valkyrie director of rugby, Lindsay Anfield, has been involved with introducing rugby league to Africa since 2006, when she joined the Tag Rugby Trust the past two decades, Ms Anfield has led six tours to Uganda and was on one of these trips that Ms Anfield first encountered Ms Lekuru, who was a tag rugby graduate at the time. The catalyst for their collaboration came later, when, in 2023, Ms Lekuru helped to lead her team Entebbe Baleen to victory in the Ugandan Rugby League. Ms Anfield said: "Peace has been on our radar since we saw her compete when the Valkyrie went on tour to Uganda."I'm very performance-driven, and I thought Peace can mix in with the best of them, so why not come and show everyone – and she has done. "I'm really proud of her." For Ms Lekuru who started playing rugby at the age of 12, the opportunity to play in the UK was exciting - although her family was initially hesitant about the distance."My mum didn't want me to be far away from her because I'm the only girl. Now she's like ' as long as you give me a call and you're smiling, that's the goal for me'," the player has only been in York for three weeks but describes it as a "really lovely" so far."Having people around you, there's no difference between home and here. "I was really welcomed with warm hands - having another family who are so friendly and loving."They really want you to learn, so I'm really having fun in York."For Ms Anfield, signing Ms Lekuru - who scored a hat-trick against Barrow Ladies last Sunday - is the start of what she hopes will be a boost for Ugandan women's described her as "a real trailblazer for African women's rugby"."Hopefully it's opening the doors for other girls. Peace is hopefully the first of many," she said."I think, even five years ago, you wouldn't get kids saying I want to be a professional rugby player as a female - and now it's a reality."I feel very privileged to be part of that journey with these girls." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.


The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Is Tottenham vs Newcastle on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch pre-season friendly
Tottenham Hotspur face Newcastle United in the final friendly of the clubs' tours of Asia just under a fortnight before the 2025/26 Premier League season starts. Spurs arrive in Seoul off the back of a narrow win over Arsenal last time out in what was the first north London derby played outside of the UK, while Newcastle lost 1-0 to a K-League XI in Suwon. Thomas Frank 's side are looking to continue their solid preseason preparations under their new boss ahead of the Uefa Super Cup final on 13 August, while Eddie Howe is still wrestling with a disappointing transfer window in which the Magpies have lost out on most of their key targets and also look set to lose star striker Alexander Isak. When is Tottenham vs Newcastle? The match kicks off at 12pm BST at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. How can I watch it? The game will not be televised in the UK, but subscribers can watch the match on the respective clubs' own TV channels, NUFC TV and SPURSPLAY. You can purchase a match pass on NUFC TV for around £6.99, while Spurs only offer an annual subscription to SPURSPLAY, which is £45. Team news Thomas Frank may be forced to leave out Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie once again after the duo missed the win over Arsenal, while James Maddison could feature after sitting on the bench for that one. Newcastle are missing Isak, while Lewis Hall could sit this match out after an ankle injury and Sven Botman could be rested after also missing the match against the K-League side. Joe Willock also suffered an injury in that match, though the severity is not known yet. Tottenham's preseason fixtures and results July 19: Reading 0-2 Tottenham - Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading July 26: Tottenham 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers - Hotspur Way, Enfield July 26: Luton Town 0-0 Tottenham - Kenilworth Road, Luton July 31: Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham - Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong August 3: Newcastle - Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, 12pm August 7: Bayern Munich - Allianz Arena, Munich, 5:30pm Newcastle's preseason fixtures and results July 19: Celtic 4-0 Newcastle - Celtic Park, Glasgow July 27: Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle - National Stadium, Singapore July 30: K-League XI 1-0 Newcastle - Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon August 3: Tottenham - Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, 12pm August 8: Espanyol - St. James' Park, 7.30pm