Tommie Gorman on his only regret for Roy Keane Saipan’s famous interview

The 2002 World Cup was Roy Keane’s last chance on the international stage and Ireland had not prepared for the party.

This is the assessment of Tommie Gorman, who was the first person to interview the Corkman after his sensational departure from Saipan.

And listening to his exchanges with Keane nearly 18 years later, Gorman would take a slightly different tactic if he had another chance.

“The overriding reaction is the missed opportunity,” he told RTE’s Sunday Sport.

“When I listen to it now, with the benefit of hindsight, you can see what exactly is bothering Keane.”

“It was his last big chance to do something in a World Cup. He was 30 years old, he came 31, he saw the potential of boys like Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, and compared it to preparations. [in the camp].

“Throughout his professional life, Keane was finely tuned, highly motivated, with little fusion, that’s what made him the player he was. The whole thing just exploded.”

Gorman continued: “Obviously he was full of all kinds of intense feelings. He had returned after being followed by journalists and wanted to give his side of the story.”

“As I listen to it now, I think part of Keane wanted to come back? Yes.

“Was there an opportunity for him to come back? I think there probably was.

“And I think when you look at what happened to the FAI afterward, I think some of the seeds of destruction were evident from that point on.”

The Saipan saga is often presented as Keane in front of then-Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

But Gorman believes that Keane’s anger was directed at all levels of the setting.

“Keane was the person who gave it all. He came from the Manchester United stable, where they had this tradition of excellence with Ferguson.

“He knew what it took, he knew what it took to be a winner. He was also very controlled. Keane could be quite explosive. That’s what you get when he was on your team.”

“Then he came to Saipan and saw the setup and realized the deal that had been made for that.

“Keane was not one at that stage in his career because of having a few beers and taking things lightly.”

“He knew time was against him. He knew this was his last chance.”

“And I think that was what led him to be in the state he was in and that was what led him to his confrontation not only with Mick McCarthy but with the FAI structure.”

“I think he rebelled against that.”

Gorman was one of many journalists who camped outside Keane’s Manchester home as the country waited for the midfielder to break his silence.

But it was during his time in town that Gorman discovered a softer side of the Corkman.

“There is a very, very soft side to Keane. We were outside her house in Hale and there was a pretty high wall around her and there were doors.”

“But you could actually see her kids in the upper window waiting for her return. And I remember saying, ‘I see the kids are waiting for you to come home.

“And the typical Keane, when he’s hard on himself, said ‘oh yeah, I’m sure they’re waiting for the presents.’

“The other thing that caught my attention was that after we finished the interview, he was dating and there were several staff members on site.

“The staff was asking for autographs. And he was very, very kind and gentle to them.

“I also mentioned in the interview that we had been playing at Hale that weekend.

“We were in this newspaper store and the man inside said that Mr. Keane is coming for his papers and that he is a perfect gentleman.”

“And I remember we were in a cafeteria and this woman said that Roy sometimes goes in with his father.

“He said he was a lovely person to have as a client, that he was very respectful and very attentive to his father.”

“It was the factors that were at the back of my head in the interview: There is a tender side to your boy.”

Gorman added: “Guys like him are sometimes treated like show ponies and there must be an awareness in them that they have a very limited lifespan.

“And in Keane’s case, this was the last great international opportunity he was going to have.”

“I think that’s what was killing him, that they weren’t going to give their best shot.”