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Steve Coogan, despite not being an avid football follower, takes on a central role in the new film *Saipan*, which focuses on the turbulent story of Roy Keane. Coogan portrays Mick McCarthy, the former Republic of Ireland manager, who falls into conflict with Keane during the 2002 World Cup preparations on the island of Saipan. The story captures a significant moment in football history, highlighting the breakdown in relations between player and manager that polarized a nation.
Growing up in Greater Manchester, Coogan never developed a deep passion for football, recalling his childhood memories mostly featured doodling in football-themed coloring books. He explains, “In those pre-enlightened days, if they were City players, they were obviously the enemy.” His family’s allegiance to Manchester United shaped his early experiences with the sport, leading him and his siblings to mock rival City players by drawing earrings, lipstick, and eyelashes on them, a form of humbling that he notes would now be seen very differently.
*Saipan* revisits the intense fallout from the Irish squad’s preparation for the World Cup, when Keane clashed fiercely with McCarthy over coaching methods, eventually leaving the camp. Coogan notes the event was widely seen as a kind of civil war, dividing fans and families alike along the lines of Team McCarthy or Team Keane. Reflecting on the deeper meaning behind the conflict, Coogan says, “The Civil War was about how Ireland should conduct itself in relation to the rest of the world and in relation to the British. And this is sort of no different.” Éanna Hardwicke, who plays Keane, shares that as a child he was coached on what to say regarding the incident, highlighting generational divides and differing perspectives about respect and conduct.
In his preparation for the role, Coogan reached out to Mick McCarthy to gain insight and balance the portrayal, believing the script favored Roy Keane’s perspective too heavily. McCarthy, although a bit apprehensive about the film’s potential negativity, was willing to engage. Meanwhile, Hardwicke studied existing interviews and accounts to understand Keane’s mindset rather than trying to contact him directly. Apart from his involvement in *Saipan*, Coogan reveals a surprising connection to football history: he was present the night David Beckham met Victoria Adams in Manchester in 1997. He modestly describes himself as “hovering” during that night out with Beckham and Ryan Giggs, an anecdote that adds an unexpected pop culture twist to the film’s exploration of football legends
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