‘To play with Keane was an honour – it’s sad I get to deal with a pantomime villain now. Our relationship broke down, but I’d still like to put things to bed’: Ex-Liverpool man reflects on his Roy Keane ups and downs

Roy Keane during the Community Shield at Wembley in August 2023.

Roy Keane and Jason McAteer shared a pitch 26 times for the Republic of Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s, as the midfield pair regularly put their club rivalries to one side on the international stage.

While this was one of the most successful periods in the history of the Ireland team, many believe the curtain fell on that particular era when Keane decided to walk out on his country on the eve of the 2002 World Cup.