Serge Roy, oldest France international and Monaco pioneer, dies aged 93 | OneFootball

L'Équipe reports that Serge Roy, the oldest living France international and a key figure in Monaco's early trophies, has died aged 93. He was the father of Brest head coach Éric Roy.

Formed at Beaune, he turned professional at Besançon before joining Monaco in 1957. In 1960 he scored twice in the Coupe de France final, a 4-2 win after extra time over Saint-Étienne, to deliver the club's first trophy, despite a double sprain. He won the French title in 1961 and totalled 63 goals in 128 official games for Monaco.

Known for his combativeness and defensive graft, he later played for OM in 1962-1963, Valenciennes in 1963 and Nice in 1964, where he ended his career and where his son began in the late 1980s.

His only France cap came at Chamartin, the old Bernabéu, on two April 1961 against Spain, a 0-2 defeat in which he struck the post. A calf injury forced him to decline a call-up that November for a World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

As an amateur with Cavigal de Nice, he enjoyed a remarkable 1973 testimonial that gathered Alfredo Di Stéfano, Francisco Gento and Ferenc Puskas through his friend Héctor Rial, and Johan Cruyff via Le Coq Sportif, which he represented.

Éric Roy has spoken of an intensely close bond with his father, and reporters in the 1990s recall the elder Roy phoning to debate ratings. Nice have announced a tribute. Éric noted that Brest face Auxerre on four January, calling it a fitting nod because Guy Roux introduced him as the son of the greatest striker in Burgundy’s history.

Source: L'Équipe