Steve Coogan, Éanna Hardwicke
It was one of the most seismic events in Irish football – the clash of egos between team captain Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and coach Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan) on the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Saipan (the name of the island where their confrontation unfurled) arrives on screens ahead of FIFA 2026. It’s a must-see for football fans, but you don’t need to be invested in the game to be gripped by this taut, combustible dramatisation of an infamous workplace drama played out on the world stage.
Then captain of Manchester United, Keane was the pride of Ireland, a player defined by his unrelenting drive. McCarthy, a seasoned manager, was the steady hand tasked with leading the national team into its most high profile tournament in years. The pair’s intense rivalry and clashing leadership styles transcended the game and divided public opinion, sparking debate in Ireland and across the wider world.
Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Ordinary Love, Cherrybomb), Saipan is a thrilling and engaging drama of pride, loyalty and identity that resonates far beyond the world of sports.