Dominic Solanke has revealed the Tottenham Hotspur team-mate he rushed to before even greeting his own family on that unforgettable Europa League night.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United last season is a moment that will always remain in the hearts of those connected to Tottenham, and it still stands as a defining point in the club’s modern era.
It marked the end of the so-called “banter era” for Spurs, with tags like being “Spursy” slowly fading from conversations surrounding Tottenham as the club finally secured long-awaited silverware.
It was not just special for the club and supporters alone, but for the players who were on the pitch and lived every second of that final, which is why many still cherish that night with real pride.
Dominic Solanke shows his appreciation for Heung-min Son
Heung-min Son finally got his hands on a piece of silverware after a decade of service to Tottenham, giving him the crowning moment he had chased throughout his time in north London.
Speaking about that famous night in Bilbao, Dominic Solanke has now opened up on the Spurs player he congratulated before his own family.
Speaking to The Athletic, the Tottenham striker explained what went through his mind as the referee confirmed the match was over.
“Manchester United had a goal kick and I asked the referee, ‘What is going on?,” Solanke recalls.
“He said, ‘It is done.’ So when Andre Onana kicked the ball I said to myself, ‘Damn, we did it.’ I was so happy we won and then I realised Sonny, who had been at the club for so long, actually did it, so I went over to congratulate him.
“After that, I went to see my family. They have been through everything and it was nice to share that moment with them.
“It was the best feeling I have ever had in my life. Even this season, I keep thinking back to it because I want to have that feeling again. Going through football, you never know if you will actually win a trophy. When you do, the feeling is crazy.”
Tottenham’s chances of silverware this season
Heung-min Son later departed Tottenham in the summer, but it was the perfect end to his story at Spurs.
He left as a club legend, the club captain who ended a 17-year wait for silverware in N17, and several Tottenham players have found ways to keep last season’s memories close to them.
Brennan Johnson had the Europa League trophy tattooed on his leg, while Pedro Porro also recently followed suit.
Tottenham will now be hoping to build on last season’s Europa League triumph by adding more silverware to their cabinet this campaign.
The FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League are the route to silverware for Frank’s side this season, following their exit from the Carabao Cup in October.
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