Eric Roy, the visionary manager who transformed Stade Brestois 29 from Ligue 1 underdogs into European competitors, has died at age 58. Roy passed away on June 17, 2026, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Roy assumed leadership of Brest in January 2023 and immediately redefined the club's trajectory. During the 2023-24 campaign, he guided the team to a historic third-place finish in Ligue 1. This achievement secured the club’s first-ever berth in the UEFA Champions League for the 2024-25 season.
His tactical excellence earned him French Manager of the Year honors for the 2023-24 season. Across 142 matches, Roy compiled a record of 60 wins, 33 draws, and 49 losses. Remarkably, he delivered these peak professional results while privately fighting a terminal diagnosis.
Before his managerial success, Roy was a distinguished midfielder with over 400 professional appearances. His playing career spanned top-tier clubs including Nice, Lyon, Marseille, and Sunderland in England. His legacy remains defined by extraordinary resilience and the unprecedented elevation of Stade Brestois on the continental stage.