"While I love and enjoy football," Son said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar Korea, published March 18, "I don't have the ability to teach others. It's the moment when I actually kick the ball myself that I truly cherish."
Son's decision to forgo a football-related career after retirement may disappoint some fans, but his resolve seems firm. He plans to remain close to the sport, albeit as a supporter, not in a coaching or managerial capacity.
The 32-year-old Tottenham Hotspur captain, who also serves as a global ambassador for Burberry, revealed these plans following a photoshoot during the 2024 F/W London Fashion Week.
"This feeling is permanent," Son said. "It's a promise I made to myself, a decision I've already solidified."