LOS ANGELES (AP) – Son Heung Min first visited Los Angeles on a summer tour of Tottenham seven years ago. He met with Los Angeles FC’s Korean supporters club and wore a sombrero from a Grateful Mexico fan in Mexico who is grateful to the front of South Korea for scoring the famous goal at the 2018 World Cup.
My son had planned another visit to Los Angeles and Las Vegas years ago, but he had to cancel an expensive trip after breaking his arm in the game.
“I didn’t think I’d be back in Los Angeles, but I’m here for now,” my son said with a laugh.
My son knows he has plenty of time to enjoy the town this time as he begins the next chapter of his groundbreaking career at LAFC.
“I’m here to win, and I’ll play,” my son said Wednesday. “I will definitely show you something exciting… do we call it soccer or soccer? I will definitely show some exciting football, and we will definitely succeed.”
LAFC officially introduced the new centerpiece at a packed press conference at BMO Stadium. There, his portrait already appears above the main entrance gate and appears on video signs for miles around the arena. The 33-year-old superstar has returned to Pacific Rim after a professional career in Europe. The past 10 years at Spurs.
“What can I say? My dreams come true. L.A., what a city,” my son said.
His son signed with LAFC as a designated player throughout the 2027 season and has two contract options that will allow him to remain with Major League Soccer Club until June 2029.
LAFC paid a Northern remittance fee of $20 million, perhaps an MLS record, and for the league’s biggest signature since then Lionel Messi.
“I’m here to make this league even bigger and I’ll do anything to make this club a better position,” my son said.
His son is widely considered to be the greatest Asian player in football history. He had suitors from all over the world after he decided to leave the Spurs with a year left on the contract, and he said that his decision to join the LAFC was not initially clear.
He came to the idea of moving to MLS after a conversation with NAFC general manager John Sorrington. He also embraced the world’s largest Korean population outside of Korea and the opportunity to play in the city with a robust foundation of football fans from any background that appreciates his achievements.
“To be honest, it wasn’t my first choice,” my son said. “But (but) the first call was when I spoke to John after the season ended, he changed my mind. He changed my mind. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination I should be. Now I’m here.
With a laugh, his son said he was also actively pitched to Hugo Lloris, a longtime teammate of Tottenham, who is now LAFC’s starting goalkeeper.
Lloris strongly praised the family’s LA experience.
“Hugo said it was just bad traffic,” my son said with a laugh. “But I know London, the traffic is also very bad. Traffic I can handle, no problem. I have to leave just 10 minutes ago. Are I experiencing it?”
The son joins a long list of soccer stars in the European leagues who moved to Hollywood for Act 2. Gareth Vert, Giorgio Ciellini and Olivier Giroud are all suited to LAFC, but Crosstown rivals La Galaxy welcomed even more European superstars, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keene and Marco Reus.
His son doesn’t seem to have declined significantly during the past season as Tottenham’s captain, and he said he’s in the shape of a good game after taking part in the Spurs’ Asian summer tour. He didn’t set a date for LAFC’s debut, but this month could be this month as LAFC doesn’t have another home match until August 31st.
“I felt that I needed a new chapter. I need a new challenge. I’m going to choose LAFC,” my son said. “I think I can say I’m getting older, but I still have good physicality, good feet and still have good quality. I’m here to play here, but I’d like to advise younger players for improvement. So we’re here.”
Karen Bass, a South Korean consul general, dozens of Korean journalists, dozens of drum beaters and dozens of drum beaters from a group of LAFC supporters, was attended by a group of well-known LAFC supporters during the match.
“Welcome to Sony and Los Angeles for millions of Angeleno and football fans around the world,” Bass said. “This is the moment when future generations will be remembered in the city.”
My son is already experiencing the passion of LAFC fans. He took part in the club’s victory over Tigress in the League Cup. He said he was overwhelmed by the energy of BMO Stadium, mainly in non-MLS matches played by the LAFC’s second stringer.
“Yesterday I was in the game watching you guys support me like crazy,” my son said. “It was insane. I just wanted to run on the pitch and show everyone my performance.”
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