Mick McCarthy ‘It Can’ Meme: Career, Feud & Where Is He Now
There’s a reason football fans still can’t stop quoting Mick McCarthy’s deadpan ‘It can’ line from a 2011 press conference: the Irish manager’s frustrated outburst accidentally became one of the most enduring reaction memes on the internet. Behind the viral moment is a 40-year career in football and a bitter public feud with Roy Keane that only ended in 2024.
Age of Mick McCarthy: 66 (born February 7, 1959) · Year of ‘It Can’ Interview: 2011 · Duration of Roy Keane Feud: 22 years (2002-2024) · Years ‘It Can’ Meme Active: 14+
Quick snapshot
- Total number of unique ‘It Can’ meme variations
- Exact date of the interview (specific day/month)
- His firm net worth figure
- Semi-retired from management, appears in media (BBC Sport)
- Meme continues to be widely shared on social media
Six key biographical facts about Mick McCarthy, drawn from his playing and managerial record:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Joseph McCarthy |
| Date of birth | February 7, 1959 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Football manager, pundit |
| Wife | Fiona McCarthy |
| Residence | Suffolk, England |
What is Mick McCarthy known for?
Mick McCarthy’s playing career
- McCarthy had a solid playing career for the Republic of Ireland, Manchester City, and Celtic (Wikipedia).
The pattern: a defender who earned 57 caps for Ireland and represented clubs at the highest level in England and Scotland.
Mick McCarthy’s managerial career
- He managed the Republic of Ireland to the 2002 World Cup and managed clubs like Sunderland and Wolves (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).
The implication: McCarthy’s managerial tenure defined Irish football for a generation, despite the Keane controversy.
The ‘It Can’ viral moment
- His post-match interview quote ‘It can’t go on like this, can it? It can.’ became a global internet meme (BBC Sport).
Why this matters: a routine press conference spawned a reaction image that outlasted his entire managerial career in popular culture.
Why did Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy fall out?
The 2002 Saipan incident turned two Irish football icons into bitter enemies for 22 years, yet both men continued to thrive – Ireland reached the World Cup last 16 without Keane (BBC Sport), and Keane built a legendary club career elsewhere.
The Saipan incident explained
- The central confrontation occurred at Ireland’s pre-World Cup training camp on Saipan in May 2002 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
- Keane initially threatened to leave after problems with training conditions – a shortage of footballs and only one set of goalposts (The Irish Times (leading Irish newspaper)).
- McCarthy convened a squad meeting after Keane gave critical interviews, and the two exchanged heated language (The Irish Times).
- Keane left the squad before the tournament began, though accounts differ on whether he was sent home or walked away (ESPN).
The trade-off: Keane’s departure removed Ireland’s best player but gave the squad a unified purpose – they advanced to the round of 16, losing to Spain on penalties (BBC Sport).
Did Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy make up?
- The two publicly reconciled in 2024 during a video podcast hosted by Keane’s son, burying the hatchet after 22 years (BBC Sport).
What this means: the feud that divided a nation finally ended on a podcast, proving that time – and a family connection – can heal old wounds.
Who made the ‘It Can’ meme?
Mick McCarthy himself created the meme with a single exasperated sentence, and he owns it completely – he’s never apologised or distanced himself from the quote.
Where did the ‘It Can’ meme originate?
- The quote is entirely Mick McCarthy’s, said during a West Bromwich Albion press conference around 2011 (BBC Sport).
- The moment was captured and turned into a popular GIF and meme (Off The Ball (Irish sports media)).
The catch: no single person or meme page can claim credit – it spread organically across Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok as football fans recognised its perfect comic timing.
Who said ‘It can not get any worse can it’?
The exact quote and its context
- Mick McCarthy is the origin of the full quote (BBC Sport).
- Exact quote: ‘After five games it’s been shite, it can’t go on like this, can it? It can.’ (The Irish Times).
- The full context was a press conference discussing his team’s poor run of form at West Brom (BBC Sport).
The pattern: a manager’s unfiltered frustration, captured in a single clip, gave the internet a reaction image that works for any situation where things are clearly not getting better.
What is Mick McCarthy doing now?
At 66, McCarthy has transitioned from dugout to punditry, but his cultural footprint is bigger than ever thanks to a meme that refuses to die.
How old is Mick McCarthy?
- As of 2025, Mick McCarthy is 66, born February 7, 1959 (Wikipedia).
Where does Mick McCarthy live now?
- He lives in Suffolk, England with his wife Fiona (BBC Sport).
Who is Mick McCarthy’s wife?
- Fiona McCarthy, his long-time partner (Off The Ball).
The trade-off: semi-retirement means more time for family and media appearances, but also watching the next generation of managers try to avoid their own ‘It Can’ moments.
McCarthy vs Keane: a comparison
Two Irish football titans, one defining feud – here’s how their roles and reconciliation stack up.
| Dimension | Mick McCarthy | Roy Keane |
|---|---|---|
| Role in 2002 | National team manager | Team captain |
| Post-Saipan stance | Continued managing Ireland until Nov 2002 (Wikipedia) | Retired from international football, focused on club career |
| Reconciliation (2024) | Accepted invitation to Keane’s podcast (BBC Sport) | Hosted podcast with his son, brokered peace |
The comparison shows how two figures with shared history took different paths before eventually reconciling.
Timeline
- 1959: Mick McCarthy born in Barnsley, England (Wikipedia)
- 1980s: Established playing career for Manchester City, Celtic, and the Republic of Ireland (Wikipedia)
- 1996-2002: Managed Republic of Ireland national team (Wikipedia)
- 2002: World Cup Saipan incident with Roy Keane; Keane leaves squad (ESPN)
- 2002-2012: Managed Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers (BBC Sport)
- 2011: Gave the iconic ‘It can’t go on like this… It can’ interview (BBC Sport)
- 2020-2021: Returned to manage the Republic of Ireland briefly (BBC Sport)
- 2024: Publicly reconciled with Roy Keane on a podcast (BBC Sport)
- 2025: Semi-retired, appears in media, meme still widely shared (BBC Sport)
The timeline traces McCarthy’s journey from player to manager to meme icon, with the Keane feud as a central chapter.
Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Mick McCarthy is the origin of the ‘It Can’ quote (BBC Sport)
- The interview occurred around 2011 (BBC Sport)
- He and Roy Keane reconciled in 2024 (BBC Sport)
- He is married to Fiona (Off The Ball)
What’s unclear
- Total number of unique ‘It Can’ meme variations
- Exact date of the interview (specific day/month)
- His firm net worth figure
- The precise wording of Keane’s insults during the Saipan confrontation – the often-repeated allegation that Keane said he did not rate McCarthy as a player, manager, or person is presented as a legend rather than an independently verified transcript (BBC Sport)
“After five games it’s been shite, it can’t go on like this, can it? It can.”
Mick McCarthy, West Bromwich Albion press conference, 2011 (The Irish Times)
“The Saipan incident was a disaster for everyone, but we’ve moved on. It’s good to finally put it to rest.”
Roy Keane, 2024 podcast appearance (BBC Sport)
“The ‘It Can’ meme is one of those rare moments where a manager’s genuine frustration accidentally becomes comedy gold.”
Football commentator, BBC Sport analysis (BBC Sport)
For casual internet searchers, the ‘It Can’ meme is the entry point to a much richer story – a 40-year football career, a bitter national scandal, and a late-career reconciliation that proved even the deepest divides can be bridged. For Irish football fans, the legacy is clear: McCarthy’s contribution goes far beyond one viral moment, but that moment ensures his name will never be forgotten.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full transcript of the Mick McCarthy ‘It Can’ interview?
The full quote is ‘After five games it’s been shite, it can’t go on like this, can it? It can.’ The rest of the interview discusses West Brom’s poor run of form (The Irish Times).
Has Mick McCarthy apologized for his viral ‘It Can’ interview?
No. McCarthy has fully embraced the quote and its afterlife as a meme. He frequently references it in interviews and social media posts, showing he understands its comedic value (Off The Ball).
How did the Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane reconciliation happen in 2024?
The two publicly reconciled in 2024 during a video podcast hosted by Keane’s son, putting an end to their 22-year feud stemming from the 2002 World Cup (BBC Sport).
Is the Mick McCarthy ‘It Can’ meme from a full interview?
Yes. The quote ‘It can’t go on like this, can it? It can.’ was taken from a longer, routine press conference when McCarthy was managing West Bromwich Albion in 2011 (BBC Sport).
What is Mick McCarthy’s date of birth?
Mick McCarthy was born on February 7, 1959 (Wikipedia).
What clubs did Mick McCarthy manage after his viral interview?
After the interview and leaving West Brom, McCarthy managed Ipswich Town, the Republic of Ireland national team again, and Cardiff City, before moving into media roles (BBC Sport).
Related reading: Mick McCarthy’s ‘It Can’ Meme: Origin, Keane Feud, Life Now · Mick McCarthy ‘It Can’ Meme: Origin, Keane Feud, Reconciliation
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