Steve Cook drops emotional QPR exit message | OneFootball

Steve Cook will play his final for QPR on Tuesday night

Steve Cook will play his final game for QPR on Tuesday night when Julien Stéphan’s side Swansea City at Loftus Road.

The defender is in his third season with the London outfit, but he will depart at the end of this campaign.

The 35-year-old’s contract will expire, with his final game for the club set to come midweek against the Swans.

Cook has featured 29 times in the Championship so far this term, with QPR now 11 points adrift of the play-off places.

The Hoops are planning for the next campaign with confirmation that they will not be in contention for a top six finish for their final three fixtures.

The centre-back arrived in the summer of 2023 following an agreement with Nottingham Forest, and he is now set for his 100th appearance for the club.

Steve Cook issues emotional QPR farewell message

Cook has issued a message on his personal X account following confirmation that he will be departing QPR at the end of the campaign.

He has thanked fans for giving him a fresh perspective on what’s required from players, and what achieving success looks like, claiming they were crucial to coming out on the right side of three tough battles in his time with the club.

“After three years, the time has come to move on from QPR,” wrote Cook.

“In my career, I have been fortunate to win promotions and enjoy successful campaigns in the Premier League.

“But ‘success’ is relative. And my time at Loftus Road really highlighted to me what fans want from you as their player.

“It isn’t always about winning leagues, achieving promotion.

“It’s about giving absolutely everything for their shirt, respecting the badge and respecting the fanbase.

“If you do that, proper fans will have your back. I have always seen QPR as a proper football club with proper fans – my time at Loftus Road confirmed it.

“It is far easier to be a fan when things are going well on the pitch.

“But it takes a special fanbase to stand with you during the hard times.

“We have had three tough battles at the wrong end of the table.

“On each occasion, the QPR fans turned up when we needed them, stood with us and successfully helped us across the line.”

Cook cited his supporters’ player of the year win in 2024 as a highlight of his time with QPR, and that he now feels he is leaving the club in a better place than how he found it after joining from Nottingham Forest three years ago.

“To be named Supporters’ Player of the Year in my first season is something I will always be proud of, and to captain the club was an honour,” he added.

“As a player, you want to leave a club in a better state than when you arrived.

“I feel I achieved that with the help of all the coaches and team-mates I have worked with over the last three years.

“As I move on to the next chapter of my career, I want to say a huge thank you to the owners, the board, the management, coaches, staff and the R’s fans.

“It has been one hell of an adventure. We have had ups and downs but I have loved the journey.

“QPR will always have a special place in my heart and I wish you nothing but success in the future.

QPR have confirmed that Cook’s final appearance for the club will come this midweek in their clash against Swansea.

This will also mark his 100th appearance for the Hoops across his three years, with the team looking to end the campaign on a high point.

The London outfit finished 18th in Cook’s first season with the team, with Martí Cifuentes overseeing survival against relegation to League One.

A 15th place finish followed in 2025, and QPR are now on the cusp of clinching a top half of the table finish this season.

Stéphan was appointed in the summer, and his side are now 11th in the table, 11 points adrift of the play-offs with just three games to go.

QPR will host Swansea on Tuesday evening in a 7.45pm kick-off before games against Derby County and Ipswich Town to conclude the campaign.

Steve Cook will be well remembered at QPR

Cook arrived in 2023, and he has been an integral part of the team in that time, so he will be well remembered by supporters, even if the Hoops didn't achieve anything grand in this period.

QPR have undoubtedly improved during his stint at Loftus Road, and he will leave the club in a much better place than how he found it, with optimism now surrounding the squad's future.

The centre-back was still a useful member of Stéphan’s side this season, and perhaps he could’ve still contributed one more campaign.