More than twenty years after the infamous Saipan bust-up rocked Irish football, Roy Keane’s fiery World Cup fallout is being retold — this time on the big screen.
The new film, simply titled Saipan, dives straight into the tension, ego, and chaos of one of football’s most talked-about meltdowns, giving fans a front-row seat to the storm that split a nation back in 2002.
The Self-Destruction of a Football Icon
In his own autobiography published just months after the 2002 World Cup, Keane had already foreshadowed what was to come.
“In this bad movie, I was going to be the fall guy,” he wrote — and as it turns out, he was right about everything except the “bad movie” part.
Because on screen, Saipan isn’t bad at all.
It’s compelling, funny, and at times uncomfortably real — a fascinating look at how the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup preparations turned into one of the sport’s most dramatic implosions.
Tension in Paradise
Set on a remote Pacific island where Ireland’s pre-tournament camp took place, the film captures the claustrophobic atmosphere and rising frustrations of the players.
Keane’s own account revealed a team divided — not entirely behind him, but not fully backing manager Mick McCarthy either.
What unfolds feels like a slow-motion car crash: Keane’s explosive personality and sky-high standards collide with McCarthy’s old-school discipline, creating the perfect storm that would end with the captain’s self-destruction.
Eanna Hardwicke Brings Keane’s Fury to Life
Eanna Hardwicke delivers a pitch-perfect portrayal of the early-2000s Roy Keane — intense, simmering, and darkly funny.
He nails the balance between Keane’s relentless drive for excellence and his sharp-edged sarcasm, something fans have since learned to appreciate in his punditry.
Hardwicke’s Keane storms through scenes, fuming at broken air conditioners, underwhelming training pitches, and the now-famous “cheese sandwiches.”
You can feel his frustration boiling over until the inevitable explosion — the tirade that became football folklore.
Even when you know it’s coming, the build-up feels electric.
Just like when Keane unleashes on a Sunday afternoon TV panel, his outbursts are somehow both terrifying and thrilling.
Steve Coogan’s Mick McCarthy Misses the Mark
While Hardwicke steals the show, Steve Coogan’s take on Mick McCarthy doesn’t quite hit the same note.
His Barnsley accent feels uneven, and the physical authority that McCarthy had in real life doesn’t fully come across.
At 43, McCarthy would have been a tough, no-nonsense manager — a proper foil for Keane’s fire.
Instead, Coogan portrays him as a more worn-down, exasperated version of the man we knew from his post-Ipswich days.
It’s entertaining, but it slightly undercuts the showdown dynamic the real story thrived on.
A Creative Twist on the Real Story
Like most dramatizations, Saipan takes creative liberties.
While it sticks close to Keane’s own autobiography — right down to scenes like watching the Muhammad Ali biopic on the flight and quoting Fawlty Towers — the movie adds its own spin to the narrative.
One fictional element is a newspaper interview that supposedly betrays Keane’s trust.
In the film, a journalist prints his comments before the World Cup despite promising not to.
In reality, Keane had knowingly given an interview to two respected football writers and approved the piece himself — so no “stitch-up” ever happened.
Still, the film doesn’t claim to be a perfect documentary.
Instead, it’s more about exploring personalities, pride, and how a single spark can ignite a firestorm inside a football team.
The Feud That Defined a Generation
At its core, Saipan isn’t just about Keane and McCarthy — it’s about the timeless clash between a manager trying to control a dressing room and a star player demanding the highest standards.
The movie makes no attempt to hide McCarthy’s weak man-management.
It leaves viewers thinking that maybe he was secretly relieved when Keane walked out, and that several teammates were too.
Without their volatile captain, Ireland settled down and went on to reach the World Cup’s last 16 — before losing to Spain on penalties.
From Island Meltdown to Modern Parallels
Saipan may be set in 2002, but its themes feel timeless.
The story hits differently now, especially with another World Cup looming and football’s power dynamics as tense as ever.
Every major tournament seems to bring similar flashpoints — questions about “special treatment,” injuries, and the tug-of-war between national pride and club priorities.
Even small dressing-room issues, ignored for months, can erupt under the pressure of the world stage.
As the film releases, fans can’t help but wonder: could England or another powerhouse nation face their own “Saipan moment” next? The pressure’s already mounting on Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham, and the comparisons are hard to avoid.
When and Where to Watch
Saipan will open in cinemas across Ireland from January 1, and in Britain from January 23, with its first screenings already making waves at the London Film Festival.
Whether you’re a fan of Irish football, a student of leadership meltdowns, or just someone who loves a gripping true story, this film promises to deliver drama, passion, and just the right amount of chaos — exactly as Roy Keane himself might have scripted it.