Brennan Johnson (24) showed affection for 'Captain' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur). He ultimately played wearing Son Heung-min's soccer shoes.
The UK 'Sports Bible' reported on the 26th (Korean time) that "Johnson wore the F50 soccer shoes created in collaboration with Son Heung-min and Adidas in the match against Brighton on Sunday. He wrote 'John' above 'Son,' creating 'Jhonson.' It was a very creative display from Tottenham's Europa League hero."
On the same day, Tottenham lost 1-4 in a comeback defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in the final match of the 38th round of the Premier League for the 2024-2025 season, held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
As a result, Tottenham's final record for the season became 11 wins, 5 draws, and 22 losses, earning 38 points and a goal difference of -1 (64 goals scored, 65 goals conceded). Tottenham finished the season in 17th place in the Premier League, the worst performance in club history. The previous worst record was 15th place in the 1993-1994 season.
However, Tottenham was not significantly affected since they had already lifted the long-awaited trophy. On the 22nd, Tottenham defeated Manchester United, securing the UEFA Europa League (UEL) title and ending a 17-year drought since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season. Son Heung-min also achieved his first victory.
The soccer shoes worn by Johnson during the match attracted attention. Starting as a right winger, he appeared on the field wearing the signature soccer shoes 'Taeguk 7,' specially made by Adidas for Son Heung-min last month. Son Heung-min, who was excluded from the lineup due to not fully recovering from his injury, watched this from the bench.
'Taeguk 7' is designed based on inspiration from the Korean flag. The background is white, with red, blue, and black colors used, and Son Heung-min's name is written in Korean on the inside and 'SON' in English on the outside.
'Footy Headlines' explained that "Taeguk 7 symbolizes Son Heung-min's quiet effort, unwavering humility, and talent that transcends limits. It features a modern design using the colors of the Taegukgi, inspired by Korea. The sole has a gradient that transitions from blue to red and white."
This is the second signature soccer shoe created in collaboration between Son Heung-min and Adidas. He also released the 'X Crazyfast' soccer shoes in July 2023. It is reported that Son Heung-min participated directly in the design.
In this way, Johnson is utilizing the soccer shoes that embody Son Heung-min's identity. Earlier this month, he was spotted wearing Taeguk 7 during training before the second leg of the UEL semifinals against Bodo/Glimt. However, he came out wearing different soccer shoes in the actual game.
Johnson, who became a hero by scoring the only goal in the UEL final, eventually wore Taeguk 7 in the match. Although he missed good scoring opportunities and couldn't score while wearing Son Heung-min's soccer shoes, it was enough to attract the fans' attention. Notably, Johnson showcased his sensibility by writing 'John' in small letters above the SON inscription on the soccer shoes.
Johnson and Son Heung-min have shown to have a good relationship. Johnson praised Son Heung-min last year, saying, "Son Heung-min is a world-class player. There is no need to tell anyone how outstanding he is. I believe he has shown that for the past 10 years at Tottenham," and he has since expressed respect for Son Heung-min.
Son Heung-min also cherishes Johnson, who is younger and a junior. He expressed his affection last March, praising Johnson by saying, "Don't you know I love him? I love him. I just want to give him a big hug."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Sports Bible, Adidas social media.
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