Heung-min Son Celebration: Meaning Behind South Korea Star's Goal Gesture

· GiveMeSport

South Korea, Tottenham and LAFC legend Heung-min Son has explained the meaning behind his famous goal celebration

Heung-min Son continues to be one of the finest examples of a sports crossover star. The Korean attacker became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot and reach 100 goals in the Premier League , forming an incredible partnership with Harry Kane during his time at Tottenham.

A national hero in his native South Korea , Son has captained his country since 2019. He is South Korea's all-time leading appearance maker, and is on track to secure the top scoring record.

Now at Los Angeles FC alongside former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris , Son continues to be among the goals, celebrating them to viral effect. Son's celebration is well-known among the Tottenham and South Korea fanbases, but it is a relatively fresh concept for MLS fans.

But what is the story behind the trailblazing Korean's now signature celebration?

After scoring, Son often seeks out the camera to deliver his well-known celebratory pose. Widely known as the "camera" celebration, Son will shape his fingers into a rectangular frame, before delivering a snapping motion, mimicking the action of taking a picture. The Korean star has also been known to direct his camera gesture at fans, sharing the moment with his team's supporters.

Paired with his infectious grin, the celebration continues to stand out in a sea of player poses and gestures . Son's goal celebration is simple and memorable, and reflective of his unique connection with the fans.

In an interview with Sky Sports during his tenure at Tottenham , Son explained the meaning behind his now famous camera gesture. And his explanation was wholesomely on-brand and a symbol of his desire to preserve the happiest memories from his football career.

"The camera celebration is because if I score a goal, it's a good memory. It's like, I take a picture, so I have good memories in my mind [of it]. I don't know if the people get it, but I think it's a good celebration," said the former Bayer Leverkusen man.

And when asked during the interview why he always plays with a smile on his face, his answer added further context to the nature of his goal celebration. "It's because I love football. I love being here, and playing with my teammates and with this amazing team," said Son, referencing his love for both the game and his Tottenham teammates.

As the interview highlighted, Son's camera gesture is not just a symbol of goalscoring ecstasy, but an extension of his love for the sport. First using the celebration at Tottenham, the celebration has become a permanent part of his football routine and continues to be used at his current club side, Los Angeles FC , and whilst on international duty.

Son has also been known to modify the gesture when celebrating landmark moments. Upon scoring his historic 100th Premier League goal, he instead pointed to the sky, paying tribute to his grandfather who had passed away just weeks earlier.

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