Saipan (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A tense drama dramatizes the infamous 2002 'Saipan incident' between a star football player and his manager.
The story
In 2002, the Republic of Ireland national football team, managed by Mick McCarthy, travels to Saipan ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Among the squad is star player Roy Keane, who is already showing signs of frustration regarding the team's lack of preparation and the poor conditions of their accommodations. The tension between Keane and McCarthy builds during their time on the island, culminating in a heated confrontation in a sauna over logistical failures and training conditions. As the tournament approaches, the internal friction between the two men becomes a public and private crisis for the team.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins in 1980 with a young Roy Keane playing in Cork before jumping to 2002, where he is a star for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. The team travels to Saipan for a pre-tournament camp. Keane is visibly unhappy with the poor facilities and the team's lack of discipline. During a sauna meeting, a heated exchange occurs between Keane and manager Mick McCarthy. The tension escalates when it is revealed that Keane leaked private thoughts to a reporter. During a subsequent meeting, McCarthy accuses Keane of faking an injury, leading to a public and insulting confrontation where Keane insults McCarthy's nationality and character. McCarthy subsequently fires Keane. The film concludes with Keane returning home to a mixed public reaction, while the Irish team eventually reaches the last 16 of the World Cup before losing to Spain. In a final scene, Keane is shown playing alone in his garden, reminiscing on his childhood.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 90
- Production countries
- Ireland; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Glenn Leyburn; Lisa Barros D’Sa
- Writers
- Paul Fraser · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Steve Coogan · Mick McCarthy; Éanna Hardwicke · Roy Keane; Zachary Murdiff · Young Roy; Jack Hickey · Niall Quinn; Harriet Cains · Theresa Keane; Niall McNamee · Alan Kelly; Alice Lowe · Fiona McCarthy; Alex Murphy · Eddy Power
- Genres
- sports film; sports drama
- Themes
- ego; national identity; professionalism vs. personal pride
- Setting
- Saipan and Ireland, 1980, 2001, and 2002.
- Premise and plot tags
- sports drama; based on actual events; biographical fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Saipan incident
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, being described as a 'profound soccer comedy' and a 'tragicomedy' that captures the tension of the real-life event. While some critics and former players debated the accuracy of the dramatized elements, the performances were praised as authentic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: percentage · review count: 29
- Production trivia
- The script was updated to include a phone call from McCarthy to Keane.; The film was shot in Belfast and Carlingford.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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