Éric Roy, Brest head coach, dies aged 58 | OneFootball

Éric Roy, Brest head coach, died on Wednesday aged 58. He leaves an indelible mark after three and a half years in charge.

His family said in an Instagram post that he had battled pancreatic cancer for three and a half years and kept living with remarkable strength, sustained by family, football and work. They thanked Brest fans for their warmth and said he would carry the chant created for him to the tune of Dany Brillant’s Quand je vois tes yeux.

A former midfielder, Roy played for Marseille from 1996 to 1999, reaching the UEFA Cup final. He later worked across roles at OGC Nice, his beloved club, and managed the first team in 2010-11.

After time away from the dugout and a stint as sporting director at Lens, he was appointed by Grégory Lorenzi and Stade Brestois in January 2023. An attractive, high-tempo approach lifted Brest to a historic 3rd place in 2024 and a first ever Champions League campaign, featuring meetings with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He was named Ligue 1 coach of the year by his peers in 2024 and was widely respected for his values and man-management.

His struggle had been understood within Brest and sorrow now prevails at the club, which plans to pay tribute.

Source: L'Équipe