Cooper Cronk: 'Because while football is very important, life is way more important', Retirement speech - 2017

The farewell speech to end all others 💜 #ThanksCooper pic.twitter.com/74ZnuucOLK

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) October 4, 2017

3 October 2017, Melbourne, Australia

On Craig Bellamy

Craig sets an agenda or an example of what it takes to be successful but he also has this side of humility that makes you a better person and some guys have come to this club that have been really good players, way better than some of the other ones that have come through the door. “Some of the lunatics get out the door real quick because they just don’t fit and that’s because of Craig.

His humility from where he’s come from and what he has is something that I’ve learnt. The two lessons that I’ve learnt from Craig is that hard work pays off and humility is a trait that you want to have.

Craig thank you, you’re the biggest influence on my rugby league career. I thank you for the person you are and I wish you all the very best with your ever growing family with a couple of grandkids now and that brings a smile to my face, knowing that you’re very happy with your life and where it’s at and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

On Cmeron Smith

To Cameron and Bill — I tell you what we balled our eyes out the other day when we presented each other jerseys, it is emotional once you develop relationships over a long period of time and we all met in 2001.

Cameron used to drive me in his hotted up HG Holden car when I didn’t know the difference between a windscreen wiper and a mud flap but he would absolutely fang the thing on the Gateway Motorway and I remember one day it was teeming down with rain and he aquaplaned it at about 160km/h and I was holding on for dear life. So thanks for almost killing me ...

Thank you for doing the things we did.

On Billy Slater

We all know Billy’s story about driving down from Innisfail but we all don’t know the story that he used to drive a maroon Magna with roof racks — and who has surf in Innisfail, there is no surfboards.

He had moo cow seatcovers and I had a Nissan Pintara and we used to go down to the Gold Coast and race each other down there. Let’s just say I’d beat him hands down all the time.

We met each other in 2001 at Brisbane Norths and it’s now 2017 and what’s been done is, I would never have thought the moments we had back in 2001 that we’d all be standing here today.

The thing that I’m most proud of is not that we’ve won some competitions or some individual medals or represented our states and our country.

I’m proud that I’ve been a part of both of them getting married, both of them having kids, both of them having a life that they can be tremendously proud of. Not only in the things that they’ve achieved but the people they are and the example they are for other people in this room and everyone at Melbourne Storm.

On partner Tara

People used to get up here and thank their wives and their girlfriends for their influence on them as people and the way they play.

I used to sit there when I was 19 and think, they don’t help you tackle or run. So why are you thanking them?

But after meeting Tara a few years back I understand why you say thank you now. Because while football is very important, life is way more important.

So she’s not here tonight but Melbourne Storm is the second best thing that’s ever happened to me, Tara’s number one and I thank you very much everything you’ve ever done for me.

Louis Van Gaal: '10 Matches, 13 points' - 2015

19 May, 2015, Manchester United Payer of the Year event, Manchester, United Kingdom

It's always difficult to give a resume of the season, but when you start a season with 10 matches and 13 points and you are a manager of a club, the most world famous club, then you play at home - and I am also a human being – and I have the experience of other clubs, that when you have that result, you are not very beloved by your fans.

But I came in the stadium of Old Trafford, 10 matches, 13 points, and I came in and thought to myself 'how do I have to behave myself?' and then the public were applauding, standing up, and I thought 'how is it possible that the fans are supporting me?'.

But thanks to that, we could continue, and not only me of course. My staff, but especially the players, because it is not so easy, when you are playing in such a great club as Manchester United, that you have 10 matches, 13 points, and a new manager who demands in another way from all the other managers. It's very difficult.

And with all the injuries, all the injuries of the first half of the season, and then we continue with the spirit in the team – unbelievable. And that's the credit to this team – the spirit in the team.

We came from, in my memory, 13th place to third position in the league. That was the highest classification, third position after such a bad start.

And then we had to believe, the players and also the staff, that we could end in second. I remember the meeting we had with the players, with the captain Wayne Rooney, saying we go for the second position in the league.

And I said 'YESSS!' [Van Gaal punches the air]. 'We GO for it! But, okay, Christmas time, Arsenal FA Cup, we lost. You remember the FA Cup game against Arsenal? We were the better team.

And the best player on the pitch in my opinion made an error and we lost that game. After that, the meeting I have just talked about was then.

Then you have to remember that we won six games in a row and then we went to Chelsea. You remember the away game at Chelsea? No, no, no, you have to listen.

At that time, we had 50 points and Wayne Rooney sat in the dressing-room and said 'We go for second place'. He said that, second position in the league table. Then six games in a row we won, then we go to Chelsea.

Who were the better team then? It's easy to say that now, in this room. I can believe it, but it's the truth. But we lost. We lost that game but can you imagine, when you have 80 per cent ball possession, 10 big possibilities, and they have three, they have three, and they win the game.

When we win that game, count the numbers of points we could have won, because after that we lost another two games, to lose three in a row.

But when you see that we had 13 points and Chelsea have 83 points [now], then we could have been champions.

So what I want to say to you is that we are VERY CLOSE [shouts] but, as a manager, I know that if it's not counting, we have to produce more.

And believe me, the players, also the staff, the organisation at Manchester United, shall do their utmost best and why? Because we have the best fans in the world. Thank-you for that and I will see you again next season.”

Van Gaal then came back on to the stage to thank a female saxophonist who had played at the event earlier in the evening.

I want to say something,” said Van Gaal, reclaiming the microphone. “Hello, hello, hey! Pay attention to the manager. Ryan Giggs said to me, and he is right, he is always right, but particularly in this case.

I have always said to you that you are the best fans in the world, but I was tonight a little bit disappointed, and I shall say why. I have seen a lady who plays the saxophone fantastically – give her a big applause!