British comedian Steve Coogan, despite openly admitting his lifelong indifference toward football, takes center stage in the upcoming cinematic portrayal of Ireland’s most infamous sporting rift. In ‘Saipan,’ Coogan embodies Mick McCarthy, the former Republic of Ireland manager whose clash with captain Roy Keane fractured the nation ahead of the 2002 World Cup.
The film’s title references the Pacific island where Ireland’s training camp descended into chaos, culminating in Keane’s dramatic departure. Coogan, who grew up in a Manchester United-supporting household, reveals his childhood engagement with football was limited to defacing Manchester City players in coloring books—an act he now recognizes carried unintended cultural implications.
Coogan prepared for his role by personally contacting McCarthy, seeking balance in a narrative he felt initially favored Keane’s perspective. ‘I wanted to be in Mick’s corner,’ explains the 60-year-old actor, who studied McCarthy’s mannerisms and even adopted his trademark shorts look despite being significantly older than the manager was during the 2002 incident.
Éanna Hardwicke, portraying the formidable Keane, approached the role differently—avoiding direct contact with the football legend and instead relying on extensive archival material. Hardwicke recalls how the Saipan incident divided Irish families, with adults coaching children on which side to support in what media dubbed ‘Civil War Two.’
In a surprising tangential revelation, Coogan discloses his accidental presence at one of football’s iconic cultural moments: the night David Beckham met Victoria Adams in 1997. While denying his role as ‘wingman,’ Coogan confirms his attendance at the charity event afterparty where the global power couple first connected, complete with observations about Beckham’s sockless fashion choices.
The film promises to explore not just the sporting conflict but the deeper cultural and generational divisions it represented, drawing parallels to Ireland’s historical struggles with identity and authority. ‘Saipan’ premieres in cinemas on January 23rd, offering a fresh perspective on a dispute that continues to resonate in Irish sports history.