00:06In May 2002, Roy Keane was a towering figure in world football.
00:14The Manchester United captain was a serial winner, accustomed to the highest standards.
00:21So when he arrived at the Republic of Ireland's training base ahead of the 2002 World Cup,
00:26he wasn't shy about registering his dissatisfaction.
00:33The base on Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands,
00:37had been selected by the FAI as a location to allow players to recuperate at the end of a busy
00:43club season,
00:44before moving to Japan to finalise World Cup preparations.
00:50But Keane felt disrespected.
00:52He saw Saipan as a junket for Irish administrators and the latest in a long line of perceived affronts,
00:59from flying players' economy class to not providing adequate pre-match meals.
01:07Keane's anger was leaked, leading to a confrontation between player and coach Mick McCarthy.
01:14Keane was in no mood to back down.
01:20I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as
01:24a person, Keane told McCarthy.
01:27The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country.
01:35It was one of the most explosive tirades in football history.
01:38As the story leaked, Keane even invented some new swear words to go into the English language.
01:45McCarthy then held a press conference, announcing that he had sent Keane home.
01:51Ireland's captain and best player would not appear at only the third World Cup in the country's history.
01:57As Mick McCarthy says, I'm going to enjoy it and we're all going to enjoy it.
02:01Right Keane or no right Keane, it doesn't matter.
02:06Without Keane, Ireland did well to qualify for the knockout phase behind Germany.
02:13Really good stuff, I'd say thank you to all the Japanese people so far, you're absolutely fantastic.
02:17Very friendly.
02:18Happy days, every day, brilliant.
02:19We're only staying for two weeks, you want to stay for two years in Italy.
02:22It's really good.
02:23The World Cup should be healthier every month of every year because it's so brilliant so far.
02:29But they were soon on their way home, following a penalty shootout defeat to Spain in the round of 16.
02:35The FAI commissioned a report into the incident and the conclusions agreed with many of Keane's criticisms.
02:45The incident was revisited many years later when Keane was appointed an assistant to new coach Martin O'Neill.
02:52I mean, I know how brilliant he was and I know how sometimes, how polarized opinions can be with Roy,
03:01but I don't have a problem with that.
03:04Naturally, Keane was often asked about his opinions of the Irish facilities.
03:09Fantastic.
03:10Absolutely brilliant.
03:12Credit to everyone that's set up here, the training pitch, the facilities, the hotel, the location where we are.
03:18We really couldn't ask for any more.
03:20It's been fantastic and so far the welcome we've had just even in where we're staying.
03:27The staff, the food, the training ground here.
03:32It's been fantastic.
03:33Absolutely.
03:34We're delighted and even our own staff in the background.
03:37The FAI have done brilliant.
03:39No doubt, lessons have been learned.
03:41So it's, honestly, I'm trying to find something that was wrong maybe.
03:47My bed's a bit too soft, but other than that, it really is.
03:52It's been fantastic and we're enjoying it.
03:55The 2002 Roy Keane doesn't really match up with what you see on television these days.
04:01It was all a bit of an act really, or just a part of his competitive fire maybe on the
04:05football pitch.
04:06But you see him having a bit of a laugh about some of his past behaviours and not taking it
04:11all too seriously.
04:13But maybe he just knows what it's all about and it's football.
04:16In 2005, I, Keaneau, a musical comedy parodying the incident and its key players, opened in Dublin.
04:25Then in 2024, it was announced a movie of the confrontation was in production.
04:32It all ensures the 2002 World Cup and the island of Saipan live on in football folklore.
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