Mick McCarthy Reportedly 'P*ssed' Over His Portrayal in New Football Film Saipan
Legendary football manager Mick McCarthy is said to be "p*ssed" about how he has been depicted in the newly released sports film Saipan, which dramatises the infamous 2002 World Cup incident involving McCarthy and former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane.
Steve Coogan Takes on the Role of McCarthy in Controversial Drama
The film, which hit cinemas across Ireland and the United Kingdom on Friday, features comedian and actor Steve Coogan in the role of Mick McCarthy. It focuses on the heated disagreement between McCarthy, then manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, and his star midfielder Roy Keane during the lead-up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
This confrontation ultimately resulted in Keane being sent home from the squad, a moment that remains one of the most talked-about episodes in Irish sporting history.
Journalist Reveals McCarthy's Anger Over 'Unfair' Representation
According to journalist Ian Ladyman, who discussed the film on the Whistleblowers podcast, McCarthy is deeply unhappy with his on-screen portrayal. Ladyman stated, "I know that Mick is p*ssed about it. I just don't think there is much joy about the way he has been portrayed."
Ladyman, a reporter for the Daily Mail, criticised specific scenes that he believes present McCarthy in an unfairly negative light. He described one pivotal showdown, saying, "It presents it like a street hooligan bullying somebody's granddad, and that's just not the way it was."
He further elaborated that McCarthy has been represented as "a chump, as an unprofessional chump," a characterisation that the former manager finds particularly galling.
Coogan's Performance and Research Draw Mixed Reactions
Interestingly, it is understood that McCarthy does not hold any personal issue with Steve Coogan himself. In fact, Coogan, 60, reportedly spoke to McCarthy during his research for the role in an effort to understand the man he was portraying.
However, Ladyman expressed surprise at the casting choice, commenting, "I am surprised Coogan took the part. I don't know why Coogan thought he could do Mick McCarthy. It is strange casting to me."
In contrast, the portrayal of Roy Keane by actor Éanna Hardwicke has been praised by Ladyman as an accurate representation of the fiery midfielder, who was 31 at the time of the incident.
Mixed Reviews and Squad Backlash for Saipan
The film Saipan has garnered a mixed critical reception since its release. While some reviews have been positive, with one critic calling it an "amusing vignette," the response from those closer to the events has been less favourable.
It is reported that several members of the 2002 Republic of Ireland squad, who famously reached the last 16 of the tournament without Keane, only to lose to Spain on penalties, have watched the film and were unimpressed with the portrayals of their former manager and teammates.
This adds another layer of controversy to a film that revisits a deeply divisive moment in Irish football, ensuring the debate around McCarthy's legacy and the 2002 World Cup campaign continues to resonate more than two decades later.
