pwshub.com

Steve Coogan to play Mick McCarthy in new film about Roy Keane row

Steve Coogan will play Mick McCarthy in a new film portraying the events of the Republic of Ireland manager's bust-up with captain Roy Keane ahead of the 2002 World Cup.

Keane ended up leaving the Ireland camp before the start of the tournament in Japan and South Korea after a public falling out with McCarthy.

The pair were involved in a verbal altercation after Keane had given an interview to a newspaper bemoaning the preparation and facilities laid on by the Football Association of Ireland.

Keane had already been convinced to reconsider a decision to quit the squad only for the falling out to lead to the Manchester United midfielder leaving anyway.

'Saipan' - the Japanese island were Ireland were based - will tell the story of events leading up to Keane's departure, with Alan Partridge star Coogan confirmed in the role of McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Keane's role will be played by 27-year-old Irish actor Eanna Hardwicke (above) 

Keane will be played by Eanna Hardwicke with production due to start soon with a slated release date of next summer.

'A million words have been written about what happened on that fateful week in 2002 on the tiny island of Saipan,' said producers Macdara Kelleher and John Keville.

'Next year audiences will finally get to experience first hand the feud between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy and why it was labelled 'the worst preparation for a World Cup campaign ever'.'

Without Keane, Ireland finished second after going unbeaten in Group E, including a last-gasp draw against Germany, before losing on penalties to Spain in the round of 16.

McCarthy resigned in November 2002 and Keane returned to the Ireland fold under his successor Brian Kerr but retired from international football after failure to help the nation qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Related stories
1 week ago - Veteran batter Steve Smith described Virat Kohli's approach on the field in a unique way, saying the Indian batting stalwart is Australian in his thoughts and action.
1 month ago - EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: Steve Bruce could make a shock return to management - as coach of Jamaica's national team as the 63-year-old targets a return to coaching.
1 month ago - TOM COLLOMOSSE: Adam Hlozek's imminent move to Leicester from Bayer Leverkusen has brought a sigh of relief among supporters who were starting to fear history would repeat itself.
1 month ago - Steve Smith, who finished runner-up in IPL 2017 as captain of the Rising Pune Supergiant, was not included in Australia's T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
1 week ago - SCOTLAND'S agonising defeat to Poland on Thursday night extended the recent run to one win in 13 games and intensified the pressure on Steve Clarke after a poor show at the Euros.
Other stories
55 minutes ago - After a dull first period, Arteta 's side faced an early second-half concession when the referee awarded the home side a penalty following a challenge from Thomas Partey on Ederson .
55 minutes ago - ISAAN KHAN IN BERGAMO: Mikel Arteta hailed David Raya's miraculous double save as 'one of the best I've seen in my career' with Arsenal rescuing an unlikely point against Atalanta.
55 minutes ago - With an exquisite piece of footwork in the build-up to the second goal in a 4-0 win at Feyenoord, the Nigeria striker earned the praise of his teammates - and plenty of fans on social media.
56 minutes ago - Matches across Europe were criticised for lacking jeopardy with teams knowing they still have another seven games to play, with only 12 of the 36 clubs eliminated at the league phase.
56 minutes ago - Emmanuel-Thomas, a 33-year-old striker, had been playing for Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton, but the club had confirmed his contract has now been terminated.