Roy Keane's secret 2002 World Cup shirt set to sell for £20,000 - but nobody knew it even existed

Roy Keane's secret 2002 World Cup shirt set to sell for £20,000 - but nobody knew it even existed EXCLUSIVE: Roy Keane sensationally walked out of the Ireland squad before the 2002 World Cup but his shirt had already been printed and has been in a lock-up ever since It’s a World Cup football shirt no-one even knew existed - but now it’s going up for auction and expected to sell for £20,000. ITV pundit Roy Keane sensationally walked out of the Ireland squad before Japan 2002 and the decision sent shockwaves through football. But the Manchester United star’s shirt for the tournament had already been made with the appropriate printing. It was kept safe by the team’s kitman who brought it back from Japan and gave it to his boss. It’s been in a lock-up on the outskirts of Dublin ever since. Now Jonathan Courtenay is putting it up for sale. He said: “I was the Umbro distributor in Ireland at the time. When Roy pulled out of the squad and came home the jerseys had already been named and numbered and were on their way out to Japan. “The kitman who worked for us and we requested that he hold onto those jerseys and they came back in skips and we took possession of them again. I have had the shirt for 24 years. I’ve shown it to people over the years. It’s travelled about bit. He added: “I’m of an age where it doesn’t excite me - as much as it should any more - everything has a value and I’m happy to let it move on. I’ve one wonderful daughter but she doesn’t have much interest in my collection of stuff so much so I’m going to let some of the pieces go now.” The Budds auction will take place in Wellingborough, Northants, later this month once the World Cup is underway. Jonathan, 49, lives in Dublin with wife Anita and 12-year-old daughter Lauren. Like all Ireland fans he remembers the explosive row between Keane and manager Mick McCarthy in Saipan in May 2002. It was such a big story it made the front page of the Mirror. Jonathan said: “Mick and Roy had had a disagreement on a tour under Jack Charlton back in 1993. There was already little bit of bad blood there.” They had a blazing argument over the standard of facilities He said: “There’s always been a huge interest in that story. I do remember start of the World Cup and this was happening between Roy and Mick and India and Pakistan were threatening each other with nuclear war and the headlines in the papers in Delhi were about Roy walking out off World Cup!” David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at Budds auctioneers, said: "Roy Keane is a living legend in Irish football, and this shirt dates from one of the most infamous and explosive confrontations in football history. It was made for the team captain but obviously never worn - instead it's a ghostly reminder of the tournament the team could have had, and one of the biggest 'what if' questions football fans have ever debated. "It's an exceptional item to have in our World Cup Auction, and stands among many other brilliant lots - from Shilton's 'Hand of God' Shirt to Gordon Banks' 1966 medal - which all stand witness to some of the most iconic moments the game has ever seen. The auction catalogue is evidence of the drama, the emotion, and the reason why the game is so well loved all over the world." The auction features some of the most iconic items in football history, including: Gordon Banks’ match-worn shirt from his legendary ‘Save of the Century’ against Pelé in 1970 (£200,000 - £300,000) Peter Shilton’s goalkeeper shirt from Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ match in 1986 (£200,000 - £300,000) There is also rare memorabilia from England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, including Alan Ball’s Final shirt, Gordon Banks’ winners medal and a complete set of tickets from the tournament