At the Republic of Ireland's 2002 World Cup training base, in the Saipan heat, Roy Keane's fuse lit and blew as explosively as one had come to expect of the Irishman's temper.

The nation's captain for their first major international tournament in eight years, he had had enough. Enough of the pre-match cheese sandwiches. Enough of the training pitch. Enough of the farce. And enough of Mick McCarthy.

Him and McCarthy had not got on as players in the squad, dating as far back as the 1994 World Cup in the USA. But they had let bygones be bygones to steer Ireland to the Asia-hosted finals.

On 21 May '02, Keane dropped his first bombshell when he announced he was leaving the Irish squad to go home. He was adamant he would not change his mind, but following a conversation with physio Mick Byrne, did so.

Two days later, McCarthy called a team meeting to question Keane's interview he gave to The Irish Times, where he cited the reasons for his initial prerogative as a retort to the criticisms which had come his way.

Later branded a public "stitch-up" by the Manchester United midfielder, it only served to see the simmering tension within Keane pour over as he let rip at his manager.

"Mick, you're a liar … you're a f*****g w****r. 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. You're a f*****g w****r and 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! You can stick it up your b******s."

And like that, he was gone.