Death of Eric Roy, Coach of French Club Brest

French football has lost one of its most inspiring coaches, following the announcement of the death of Eric Roy, the Brest coach, at the age of 58 on Wednesday, due to complications from pancreatic cancer which he battled for three and a half years, according to a statement published by the family on Instagram.

The family stated in their announcement: 'For three and a half years, our father fought pancreatic cancer, and despite the pain, he continued his life with an astonishing determination that still amazes us.'

Roy returned to the world of coaching in January 2023 to save Brest from the threat of relegation, after a long absence from the field. With his clear project and calm personality, he transformed the team from one struggling to survive into a force that threatens the giants, culminating in the 23-24 season when he led the club to third place in the French league.

The exceptional achievement was crowned by the French Professional League with the award for the best coach in Ligue 1 for that season, recognizing the significant work he did despite his health conditions.

The family pointed out that his experience with Stade Brest was one of the most beautiful chapters of his life, where he found the energy and motivation to continue and built a special relationship with his players, described as based on love and mutual respect.

Before becoming a coach, Roy left his mark as a high-caliber defensive midfielder, starting with Nice in 1988 and progressing through clubs like Toulon, Lyon, Marseille, and Troyes. He had a professional stint with Sunderland in the English league and Rayo Vallecano in Spain before retiring where he began in 2004 with Nice.

During his career, he played over 300 matches in the French league, acquiring diverse experiences that he later transferred to the stands. His experience as a player shaped his coaching vision, which relied on tactical discipline and leveraging the capabilities of ordinary players.