Harry Arter’s Ireland career will always be remembered for his infamous bust-up with Roy Keane in 2018, but he does not want that ugly clash to be his only legacy in a green jersey.
Keane’s angry exchange with him took place in front of Arter’s pal Declan Rice, in what proved to be the final time the latter was part of an Ireland squad.
A few weeks later, it became a national incident on the front and back pages of newspapers, while also becoming the top story on RTÉ for a few days.
Keane ultimately saw his reputation trashed when a WhatsApp message from Stephen Ward emerged revealing the details of the fallout.
The incident deepened the toxicity that had built up around Keane and Martin O’Neill in what proved to be the final months of Ireland’s management team.
Arter says he didn’t want to be part of the storm that blew up, as he offered up his reflections of the story from 2018.
“I never really wanted to say publicly what happened in the incident with Roy to start with,” he reflected.
“In the end, the voice message from Stephen Ward was released and exposed everything that happened and it changed the way people viewed the entire story.
“I don’t regret how I handled the situation at the time and I am not the kind of person who bears a grudge either. He was annoyed because I was saying I wasn’t fit and that’s why it all blew up.
“When you get a bit older, you reflect on things and maybe I should have had an honest conversation with him at the time of the incident rather than coming away from the squad.
“Like anyone in that Ireland squad, I would have run through a brick wall if Roy Keane told me to.
“He is a legend of the game and we all wanted to impress him. When someone of that stature speaks to you, everyone is going to listen, so it was a shame the way things worked out.”
Reflecting on Stephen Kenny’s Tenure
When Arter looks back on his time in international football, his biggest regret is not his fall-out with O’Neill and Keane.
Arter had fallen out of favour at Nottingham Forest when Kenny took control of the Ireland senior team in April 2020 and he set the midfielder a challenge that he was happy to embrace as he aimed to keep his international story alive.
“It felt like my Ireland career was pretty much done until Stephen came in,” said Arter.
“It was around the time when things were really starting to derail at Nottingham Forest and initially Stephen was saying he couldn’t put me in his squad if I wasn’t playing.
“So I asked him if there was anything I could do to stay involved and he asked me to get in touch with Damien Doyle, the head of athletic performance at the FAI.
“They gave me a fitness programme for the next month and Stephen said he would consider me if he needed to call me up for the Andorra and Hungary games in 2021.
“I was like a man possessed when I got this training programme. I was running every night and going way beyond what Damien had asked me to do.
“After such a bad season at Forest, I wanted to give myself every chance of getting back into the Ireland squad.
“Stephen called me after a few weeks and said I deserved to be in the squad due to the dedication I had shown.”
Leadership Role and Difficult Circumstances
Arter’s final trip with Ireland saw him assume a leadership role in the group, as he set out to speak to the next generation of Ireland players that their future needed to be cherished.
Yet he admits Kenny’s task with Ireland may always have been doomed to failure, despite his passion for the job.
“I was desperate for Stephen to do well,” he added. “I’ve never known someone so passionate about the Ireland team. There was no ego with Stephen at all. His passion to do well in that job was incredible.
“In the end, I feel he had close to an impossible job. I felt for Stephen because I felt he was the right man at the wrong time for Ireland.
“Keith Andrews was a fantastic assistant and the training and information we were given was top class. Comparing it to what I had at club level with managers [who] I admire and respect, Stephen’s set-up was as good as anything I’d seen.
“He can look back on it and think that he gave his all and a lot of the lads who are coming through are the players Stephen introduced to international football, so that’s his legacy in the job.
“Hopefully Heimir Hallgrimsson has more success because all we want is a successful Ireland team.
“Personally, I don’t see our results changing for the better any time soon, but I hope I’m wrong.”
A Look Ahead to the Future
Arter’s comments come as Ireland prepares for a crucial period in their international football journey. The team’s performance under Hallgrimsson has been mixed, with a disappointing Nations League campaign followed by a morale-boosting win over Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 qualifier. The pressure is on for the team to deliver consistent results and book their place in next year’s tournament. However, Arter’s words serve as a reminder of the challenges facing the team and the need for patience and support as they navigate their way through this crucial phase.
While Arter may not have been able to leave his mark on the pitch in the same way he would have liked, his dedication to the cause and his willingness to fight for a place in the squad are testament to his commitment to Ireland. It is clear that he believes in the team and its potential, and he will undoubtedly be watching with interest as they embark on their journey towards Euro 2024.
