How Roy Keane’s infamous 2002 World Cup bust-up was transformed into an acclaimed film

by

Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke barely remembers being five years old during the 2002 World Cup, but he still has strong memories of the event. He recalls, while speaking in London, being very aware of all the images and symbols surrounding it.

I vividly remember the Irish soccer jersey and could likely still name the entire starting lineup. I collected stickers and was totally immersed in World Cup excitement back then – I haven’t felt that level of enthusiasm for the tournament since.

For fans of the Republic of Ireland’s national football team, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, held in Japan and South Korea, is still a very difficult memory.

The tournament wasn’t just about what happened on the pitch – Ireland lost to Spain in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. It was also remembered for a major disagreement before the competition even began, when Irish captain Roy Keane, a Manchester United great, had a falling out with manager Mick McCarthy.

The Irish soccer team prepared for the FIFA World Cup on Saipan, a small Pacific island. However, Roy Keane became extremely frustrated with the inadequate training conditions – they didn’t even have soccer balls when they first arrived – and ultimately flew back home, creating a major international news story.

Hardwicke, who portrays Keane in the new film Saipan – which depicts the aftermath of a major event – explains it unfolded over four or five days on what he calls the world’s biggest stage, for anyone, athlete or not.

World Cups have seen disagreements between players and coaches before – like when France’s Nicolas Anelka clashed with his coach Raymond Domenech in 2010. However, this particular dispute was especially impactful, splitting families in Ireland and, according to Glenn Leyburn, a co-director of the event on Saipan, continues to be felt in Irish culture even now.

In 2002, Ireland was experiencing a major shift. Known as the Celtic Tiger era, the country had seen a period of fast economic growth that turned it into a prosperous nation.

Want to see this content?

This YouTube video isn’t available while you’re signed in to Contentpass. Please sign out of Contentpass to watch it.

Ireland’s football team was enjoying a successful era, having competed in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and Roy Keane was a key player during that time. While an injury kept him from playing in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, at 31 years old, Keane was at the height of his career and represented a new level of ambition for Irish football – they were no longer content just to participate, but to compete seriously.

Honestly, I think he was so good he could have elevated any team at that World Cup – he’d have been their star player, no question. But he wasn’t just looking to play, he was chasing something bigger, believing he could achieve even more with the right opportunity.

The sudden end to Roy Keane’s World Cup dream sparked a lot of reflection and debate among people in Ireland.

Hardwicke believes the situation is deeply sad for many reasons. It’s heartbreaking that a small nation with huge hopes and dreams could fall short, especially given the existing idea that Ireland sometimes struggles to fully succeed in football. The fact that this perception seems to be proving true is particularly tragic.

The film’s script was written by Paul Fraser, known for his work on films with Shane Meadows, including the popular ‘Dead Man’s Shoes.’ Steve Coogan plays McCarthy, and he brilliantly captures the speech patterns of the real-life manager he’s portraying.

According to Lisa Barros D’Sa, who co-directed the film with Leyburn and is also Steve Coogan’s wife, Coogan was drawn to the role because of his own family history – like McCarthy, he has Irish heritage but was raised in northern England. She explains that Steve was fascinated by the concept of being part of the Irish diaspora and how that shapes a person’s identity, and he skillfully brought that understanding to his portrayal of Mick.

Hardwicke was a little intimidated about working with such a seasoned actor like Coogan. He worried he might get nervous and perform poorly during scenes with him. But he quickly realized that truly talented actors like Steve have a way of bringing out the best in everyone around them.

Was he hesitant to imitate Coogan’s best-known role, Alan Partridge, the Norwich-based radio and television presenter? “Absolutely not,” he said with a laugh.

One of the most memorable parts of the Saipan experience was watching him transform into his Roy Keane impersonation, especially because he’s normally such a quiet and friendly person. According to Leyburn, “He’s a very gentle, amiable character.”

The actor, known for his role in the popular BBC series Normal People and currently performing in The Playboy of the Western World in London, appears very different from the famously grumpy Roy Keane. Keane’s reputation for being difficult has only grown through his frequent appearances as a commentator on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage.

You know, I really respect how direct and firm he is. It’s actually something I find admirable. Most of us try to meet people in the middle or ease into conversations, but he just doesn’t seem to do that. And honestly, I think that’s consistent with how he approaches everything – whether he’s playing a real person or a character, he fully commits and doesn’t hold back. It’s a really interesting approach.

Everything comes down to physicality – how a person moves and presents themselves. It’s about the connection between their mind and body, and how they impact each other. I experimented with embodying a different perspective, asking myself what it’s like to remain authentic without changing to make others more comfortable.

Hardwicke quickly got into shape by training at the Before the Lights gym in London, with limited time to prepare. While many players of his generation were known for socializing heavily during the week and then playing on Saturdays, Keane didn’t follow that pattern. He was ahead of the curve, embracing a healthy diet and dedicated training program from an early stage in his career.

Hardwicke attempted to understand Keane’s perspective, but found it difficult. He explained that their approaches were very different, and that even five weeks of working with the material felt like too much. He felt creatively drained and believed the film had already reached a good length.

Before filming began, Coogan met with McCarthy to discuss the well-known events. As for Keane, Barros D’Sa explains they contacted him to inform him about the project, but haven’t spoken to Roy Keane directly.

I’ve been following this film closely – it actually came out in Ireland earlier this month. But the people behind it seem a little nervous about how audiences will respond, especially considering the sensitive subject matter. As the director put it, they truly have no idea what to expect and it’s completely up to viewers to make of it what they will. It’s a fascinating position to be in, releasing something so potentially divisive.

Leyburn agreed. “What’s great about Roy is that he’s always honest and direct with what he thinks – we all appreciate that. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Growing up in Cork, Ireland – the same place as Keane – meant I had to do a lot of my research for the film remotely. Now that it’s finished, I’m really hoping to finally meet the man himself! I’d love to share a drink with him. Actually, watching the film, I joked to myself that his only complaint might be that he looked even better at 31 than I do at 28!

While it’s unlikely Keane or McCarthy would be happy about this difficult time in their lives being made into a film, the filmmakers aimed to portray the events with sensitivity, not to exploit them for shock value.

Leyburn says they have great respect for both Roy and Mick. Both coaches had reasonable plans for the World Cup, but they were placed in a tough spot through no fault of their own. It’s unfortunate things didn’t work out, and the more they learned about the situation, the more they realized how similar the two coaches were and that they ultimately shared the same goals.

Want to see this content?

We can’t display this content because of a security measure from Google reCAPTCHA. To see it, please log out of your Contentpass account.

Leyburn and Barros D’Sa, who previously directed the documentary Good Vibrations about the Belfast punk scene, take a different tack with this film. It’s more of a surreal and dreamlike experience, and that’s reflected in details like the oversized cardboard cut-out of Keane’s head that appears throughout the movie.

The film primarily takes place within the hotel, using its rooms and hallways to mirror the main character’s emotional breakdown. This technique is similar to what’s seen in movies like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and the Coen Brothers’ Barton Fink, where the hotel itself represents the character’s mental state.

Director Hardwicke describes the series as feeling like a deep exploration of the mind. The island and hotel essentially become a stage for Roy’s internal struggles. Unlike typical true-crime dramas that present facts concisely in a few episodes, this series isn’t focused on a straightforward retelling of events. While based on real occurrences and meticulously researched, it prioritizes a visual and emotional experience of the story.

The actor believes Ireland is at a crucial moment of change. He notes that the country is very different now than it was 23 years ago, and suggests a link between this shift and Irish culture – including sports, figures like Roy Keane, recent rugby success, and current musicians such as Fontaines DC, CMAT, and Kneecap.

Ireland now seems more confident and assertive internationally, and less hesitant to take its place on the world stage.

Saipan is now showing in UK cinemas.

Authors

James Mottram

James Mottram is a London-based film critic, journalist, and author.

Read More

2026-01-23 10:42