Saipan Odds: Stars Lining Up To Play Ireland's 2002 World Cup Stars

Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy's infamous 2002 World Cup fallout is to be turned into a movie, which will see Steve Coogan portray the former Republic of Ireland football manager. 

There is plenty of speculation on UK betting sites as to who might play some of the other characters.

The movie will tell the story of the 'Saipan incident', which saw then-Ireland captain Keane involved in a public dispute with McCarthy when the team were preparing for their Korea/Japan 2002 campaign on the island of Saipan. 

While warming up for the tournament, Keane is said to have voiced his frustrations about the training standards as well as the quality of the facilities provided by the FAI (Football Association of Ireland). 

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He was initially persuaded to remain in the camp, but then gave an interview to The Irish Times, in which he complained about the preparations.

McCarthy is said to have challenged Keane about the chat during a team meeting, and the former Manchester United captain is reported to have told McCarthy "I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person".

As well as that, Keane said: "You can stick your World Cup up your a**e. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country." 

Keane then left the camp to fly back home, but McCarthy insisted in a press conference that the skipper had been sent home. 

According to Variety, Normal People actor Eanna Hardwicke is to portray Keane in the movie, which is simply called 'Saipan' and there is plenty of speculation about who might play some of the other players.

They include senior Ireland stars Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton, as well as Robbie Keane and Gary Breen, and also sports administrator John Delaney, who was the FAI's public figurehead during the Saipan saga. 

Aidan To Score Quinn Role? 

Quinn and Staunton were the most capped players in Ireland's 2002 World Cup squad, and the former Aston Villa defender took over as captain following Keane's departure. 

Both players will no doubt feature heavily in the movie, and Aidan Turner has emerged as the early favourite on specials betting sites to portray target man Quinn, who was 35 at the time. 

The Poldark star tops the market at 4/6, while Kin actor Emmett J Scanlan is 2/1 second favourite.

Saipan Odds: Who Will Play Niall Quinn?

Staunton was 33 at the time of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, and Domhnall Gleeson is the early frontrunner to play the defender. 

The Harry Potter star - who is the son of legendary Irish actor Brendan Gleeson - could certainly pass for Staunton visually, and he is 2/5 to take on the role.

However, he faces stiff competition from fellow Irish actor and Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson, an Evens shot.

 Saipan Odds: Who Will Play Steve Staunton?

While several Irish actors are likely to be cast in the movie, which is due to shoot in Ireland and Saipan, with production beginning this summer, Alan Partridge star Coogan's casting as McCarthy shows the movie's bosses are prepared to look further afield to find the right stars for the job. 

Brits Will Poulter (3/1), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (4/1), and William Moseley (5/1) could also be in the mix to play Staunton.

Morgan And Keoghan In Contention

During the 2002 World Cup, Roy's namesake Robbie Keane was one of the youngest members of the squad aged 21, but he went on to become Ireland's most capped star, with 146 appearances, and record goalscorer after netting 68 times for his country.

He scored three times in Ireland's four games at the tournament, including a last-minute equaliser against Spain in the last-16, but Ireland were dumped out of the competition on penalties. 

Saipan Odds: Who Will Play Robbie Keane?

Experienced Irish actors Colin Morgan (6/4) and Barry Keoghan (2/1) are the early favourites on new betting sites to portray the striker.  

While both are in their 30s, they can play younger than their age, but if movie bosses are looking for someone in their 20s, then Handsome Devil star Fionn O'Shea (3/1) or Young Offenders actor Alex Murphy (5/2) might be more suitable.

Murphy's Young Offenders co-star Chris Walley could also appear in the movie, as Irish centre-back Gary Breen. 

During Keane and McCarthy's team meeting bust-up, none of his team-mates are said to have stuck up for the player, but Keane later wrote in his autobiography that Breen and David Connolly visited his room.

Saipan Odds: Who Will Play Gary Breen?

As a result, the pair are likely to be cast in the film, and Walley is 7/4 second favourite to portray Breen. 

Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal is the current 8/11 favourite for the role, and Transformers: Age of Extinction star Jack Reynor is also in the mix at 2/1.

Scott's Saipan Part 

The FAI came under fire from Keane ahead of the tournament, but the saga helped John Delaney climb the ranks at the governing body. 

Delaney had been appointed honorary treasurer of the FAI in July 2001, but he went on to become the public face of the FAI in May 2002 when he shot to the defence of Ireland's World Cup preparations. 

In a press conference, he said: "We believe the Association provided the best facilities that we could towards Mick McCarthy’s want and desires.

"I think the difference here is a matter of opinion in the sense that Saipan was effectively an R&R set-up for the players to get themselves acclimatised and into some form of training."

Saipan Odds: Who Will Play John Delaney?

By November 2004, Delaney had taken over as interim chief executive of the FAI, and in March he was permanently appointed to the position.

He stepped down in March 2019, after it was revealed he had given the FAI a €100,000 bridging loan in April 2017, which was repaid two months later. 

Delaney is expected to be a huge figure in the forthcoming film, and Fleabag star Andrew Scott is the Evens favourite to portray him. 

Fellow Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers is 11/10 on betting apps, and Jamie Dornan is a 2/1 chance.

What's more, comedian and actor Peter McGann (3/1) could be an ideal candidate for the part, and he has previously admitted he would love to portray Delaney one day. 

In November 2020, he wrote on Twitter: "I’m just putting it out in the universe: I want to play John Delaney some day".

Nearly four years on, McGann could land his dream role, but the movie could bring on nightmares for Keane and McCarthy. 

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.