Roy Keane is truly a legend on and off the field.
And now that legend will be translated onto the screen for one of the most controversial and talked about moments in his career.
Yes, a film is set to be made about the 2002 World Cup entitled Saipan.
The film’s name comes from the infamous “Saipan Incident” in 2002.
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To jog your memory this is when Roy Keane went head to head with Mick McCarthy, the former Ireland soccer manager.
At the time, Roy was captaining the Irish national side ahead of the World Cup finals in Japan.
While preparing on the tiny island of Saipan, the soccer star butted heads with the manager, as he was reportedly unhappy with the accommodation and training conditions.
At the time it was reported that Roy went on a verbal tirade at the manager in front of the rest of the team where he told Mick McCarthy to “stick your World Cup up your arse”.
He then flew back to Ireland, although McCarthy later stated he had sent him home.
The incident caused a huge controversy back home over who was to blame. It also meant that Roy couldn’t play for his country again until 2004, after McCarthy had stepped down as manager.
BAFTA-nominated Cork native Éanna Hardwicke (Lakelands, The Sixth Commandment) will play Ireland football captain Roy Keane, with two-time Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Reckoning) cast as the Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.
The film is expected to hit Irish cinemas in summer 2025.
