‘He will always be the pride of Brest’ – tributes to Eric Roy
Eric Roy, head coach of Stade Brestois, died at the age of 58 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was praised for taking Brest to the Champions League and received many tributes from the football world.
Stade Brontois head coach Eric Roy has died at the age of 58, his family said in a statement on Wednesday. Roy joined Les Ty-Jeffs in 2023, after a decade-long break from management. Despite a limited budget, he managed to lead Brest to the 2024–2025 Champions League campaign, with Brest finishing third in Ligue 1. This achievement earned him the Ligue 1 Best Manager Award in 2024. His family said he was battling pancreatic cancer for more than three years. His illness was kept hidden during his time in Brest. Following the news of his demise, tributes started pouring in. France manager Didier Deschamps said: "With the tragic passing of Eric Roy, French football has lost a very capable manager and a much-loved personality. His results with Stade Brestois and especially their qualification for the Champions League highlighted his great understanding of his game and his players. I was delighted to give him, two years ago, the award for best manager of Ligue 1 at the UNFP awards. He battled an illness, which brought honours. On a personal level, I will remember him as a deeply humanitarian person, both on and off the field. My condolences to his wife, children and all his loved ones." Deschamps' assistant Guy Stephan also said: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Eric. I had the opportunity to manage for two years with Olympique Lyon. He was a great professional, very
Honest. We kept in touch and I was always happy to see him again. He will leave a huge void at the Stade Brestois, where his great success reminded us of the caliber of French managers. I'm thinking of his family." The mayor of Brest, Stéphane Roudaut, said: "Brest has lost the mastermind of one of its greatest watches. Eric Roy will always be the pride of Brest, having led Stade Brestois to the Champions League on a historic journey that the entire region dreamed of." LFP President Vincent Labrun said: "Today French football has lost one of its most respected, beloved and authentic personalities. Eric was one of those people who pursued their profession with complete passion and rare honesty. An emblematic player, he reinvented himself as a manager, recognized by his colleagues, his players and everyone who had the opportunity to work with him." To his relatives, closest people, family, friends and the community of all fans of Stade Brestois, the GFFN expresses its deepest condolences.