The 25 reasons why Ireland loves Colm Cooper

Doing freckled Irishmen proud everywhere

Is it really appropriate to call a 32-year-old man 'Gooch'? The Kerry and Dr Crokes legend is about to start another Championship campaign for Kerry on Sunday and we've put together 25 things that make the forward one of the icons of the Ireland and the GAA 1. He hasn't changed much in 14 years. Maybe a few kilos heavier bur the red hair is all natural.

2. Martin McHugh got slammed for calling him a two-trick pony. Forgive him Lord for he knows not what he's shiteing on about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTFldkyJJhM 3. He's suffered a dreaded knee injury. A country gasped in horror.

4. But he's come back better than ever. A country united in celebration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQmOAJVw0pU 5. He was willing to help Kerry in any way to win last year's All-Ireland. He was always ready with the foam roller, day or night.

GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Croke Park, Dublin 3/8/2014 Kerry vs Galway Kerry's Colm Cooper Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

6. Brian O'Driscoll put him up on the Second Captains good wall. BOD recognises greatness when he sees it. https://twitter.com/johnny_ryan11/status/596072227403075584 7. He gets cranky "This is my field".

AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Semi-Final, Dr. Crokes GAA Club Grounds, Killarney 16/11/2013 Dr Crokes vs Loughmore Castleiney Dr Crokes' Colm Cooper and Michael Webster of Loughmore Castleiney Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

8. And he makes defenders cranky. "What are you smiling about".

9. Paul Galvin loves him.

'Gooch that day of the (2007) All-Ireland final. That time is burned into my head. 1:50pm, less than two hours to the biggest day of our lives and he’s fast asleep in the hotel bed. When I woke him, he had a stretch. He has that coolness. It’s cold.'

H/T to Irish Examiner

GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Final 20/9/2009 Kerry Paul Galvin and Colm Cooper celebrate after the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan *** Local Caption ***

10. He was a mascot in the 1992 All-Ireland club final. He loved it so much he came back and made it his own playground. https://twitter.com/gaanostalgia/status/580789229011222528 11. Dropping his name gets you access to anywhere. We're trying it in Coppers next week. https://twitter.com/Dorarcaa/status/249900937118892036 12. His injury meant the Championship was a duller place last year. The Kerry kitman saved him from having to wear a blue scrub. Good work. https://twitter.com/colmcooper13/status/437233797105733632 https://twitter.com/CKKilkenny93/status/435435237943033857 13. He makes sure to double check every taxi after this. "You'll never believe who I had in the back yesterday". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo8WmCz7qr0 14. His Twitter game is strong. https://twitter.com/colmcooper13/status/596038738372861953 https://twitter.com/colmcooper13/status/580820098992197633 https://twitter.com/colmcooper13/status/328599960444612608

15. He calmed Darragh O Se's nerves in an All-Ireland final

Breathe in and out and pray we don't get a 45.

All Ireland Champions Kerry team depart from Dublin 17/9/2007 Aidan O'Sullivan, Colm Cooper and Darragh O'Se share a joke before boarding the train for Kerry Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy *** Local Caption ***

H/T to Irish Times

16. His second favourite jersey is the Dublin one. The inside-out look is popular in downtown Killarney.

GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final, Croke Park, Dublin 1/9/2013 Dublin vs Kerry Kerry's Colm Cooper congratulates Kevin McManamon of Dublin Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

17. He's broken Mayo's hearts too many times to remember Hearts, dreams, lives...he's broken everything in Mayo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZDZA1huRsI 18. He told Kieran Donaghy what to do in a one-on-one which came in handy in last year's All-Ireland final. Place it, don't blast it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlbCeCOSO4s 19. Gary Monk is his twin We'll admit Gary probably does have slightly better hair.

20. His favourite TV show is the Simpsons so here he is as a character South Park "Kerr-ah".

21. He's the only ginger we want to see in Croke Park this summer. Could Ed Sheeran score points off both feet? Doubtful.

22. He weighed just slightly more than a bag of sugar in his first All-Ireland final. 63.5029 bags of sugar to be precise. https://twitter.com/MooneyOwen/status/350336748695482368 23. He doesn't need to put a toe under the ball to pick it up. Well, James O'Donoghue what do you think of that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YB77OQtQ3o&t=0m10s 24. His goals at club level in Kerry are legendary That finish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3TcT5E-ckk 25. Everyone loves him. Say aaah.

(And one more for luck). Here's the full story of his #TheToughest Road Back to recovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U6EH81Qr7o

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