Former Sunderland midfielder Éric Roy dies aged 58 | OneFootball

Former Sunderland midfielder Éric Roy has died aged 58. His family said he passed away after a three-and-a-half year battle with pancreatic cancer.

An elegant central midfielder, Roy joined the Black Cats in 1999 and helped the team finish seventh under Peter Reid on their return to the Premier League. He starred in one of the Stadium of Light’s most iconic matches, a 4-1 win over Chelsea, memorably setting up Niall Quinn after a dazzling run.

With opportunities limited in his second season, he returned to France. He went on to become an immensely popular figure in French football as a pundit, manager and sporting director.

Roy held sporting director roles at Nice and Watford, then returned to management with Stade Brestois in 2023. He made history by leading the club to European qualification for the first time.

He was named Ligue 1 Manager of the Season in 2024 and continued to enjoy success with Brest in the years that followed.

Source: Sunderland Echo