‘To play with Keane was an honour – it’s unhappy I get to take care of a pantomime villain now. Our relationship broke down, however I’d nonetheless prefer to put issues to mattress’: Ex-Liverpool man displays on his Roy Keane ups and downs

April 21, 2025

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Roy Keane and Jason McAteer shared a pitch 26 occasions for the Republic of Eire within the Nineties and 2000s, because the midfield pair commonly put their membership rivalries to at least one aspect on the worldwide stage.

Whereas this was one of the profitable intervals within the historical past of the Eire group, many consider the curtain fell on that exact period when Keane determined to stroll out on his nation on the eve of the 2002 World Cup.

The so-called ‘Saipan incident’ noticed Keane and supervisor Mick McCarthy conflict when the previous Manchester United man questioned the professionalism of the nationwide group earlier than the pair had a shouting match that resulted in Keane storming out of the camp.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer opens up on his Roy Keane relationship

Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy

Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy had a serious falling out in 2002

Keane and McAteer met early within the 2002/03 season when the latter was at Sunderland, with Keane – ranked at no.9 in FourFourTwo’s record of the 100 biggest Premier League gamers ever – being red-carded for elbowing McAteer, with the pair concerned in a simmering feud ever since.

However the place does their relationship stand in the present day? McAteer opens up on what’s a fancy scenario to FourFourTwo.

Former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer

Jason McAteer in motion throughout a Liverpool charity match

“I used to be in a midfield two with Roy,” says the previous Bolton and Livepool man. “Throughout that 2002 qualifying marketing campaign, I performed alongside one of many most interesting midfielders of his technology on the peak of his powers. To be in the identical group as him was an honour, to be sincere.

“As a participant, Roy was completely sensational. As an individual, he’s very complicated. There are two sides to him. I see the pantomime villain that he performs on tv, and that fits him – folks prefer it, there’s a requirement for it.

“However I’ve additionally seen the emotional aspect, the humorous aspect, and I like that character. Sadly, I get to take care of the pantomime villain now.

“Regrettably, our friendship is fractured. Our relationship broke down on a soccer pitch – we had a conflict. On the finish of the day, I’m on the pitch to win – I’ll do no matter I must do to win for my group. If that upset him by attending to him personally, that’s the character of the beast.

Roy Keane

Keane left the 2002 World Cup early (Picture credit score: Cathal McNaughton)

“I had the higher of him on that event and he is aware of it. We should always have shaken arms afterwards, however we didn’t after which folks wished to make extra of it. He wished to make extra of it.

“I wished to place it to mattress. I’d nonetheless prefer to put it to mattress, however he doesn’t need to so I’m simply going to must take care of it.”

‘To play with Keane was an honour – it’s unhappy I get to take care of a pantomime villain now. Our relationship broke down, however I’d nonetheless prefer to put issues to mattress’: Ex-Liverpool man displays on his Roy Keane ups and downs

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