Move over, Bend It Like Beckham—there’s a new football flick in town, and it’s got more drama, & a lot more craic. Ask any sports fan about the Saipan saga of 2002, and they’ll tell you about infamous bust-up between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy ahead of the World Cup its the stuff of legend—pub arguments, family feuds, and even a few broken remote controls. Now, new movie SAIPAN brings that story roaring back to life.
SAIPAN isn’t just about football—it’s about pride, loyalty, and what it means to wear the green jersey. The film follows the Irish squad as they land on the tiny Pacific island of Saipan, dreaming of World Cup glory, only to be torn apart by one of the most explosive rows in sporting history. The intense rivalry between these two personalities transcended the game, gripping an entire nation and the sporting world. On the surface, the feud was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved. This is the definitive account of one of the most fractious fallings-out in the history of sport. Expect high drama, hilarious one-liners, and a soundtrack that’ll have you humming “Olé Olé Olé” in the cinema aisles.
Directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Good Vibrations, Ordinary Love) and based on an original script by Paul Fraser (Heartlands, A Room for Romeo Brass), SAIPAN stars BAFTA nominated Éanna Hardwicke (Lakelands, The Sixth Commandment) as Roy Keane, with two-time Academy Award® nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Reckoning) as Mick McCarthy.
WATCH THE TRAILER
SAIPAN – Irish Cinema Release Date – Coming Soon
Photo Credit : Aidan Monaghan