Deschamps pays tribute to Éric Roy, former Stade Brestois manager, who died at 58 from cancer

Éric Roy died on Wednesday at the age of 58, taken by pancreatic cancer diagnosed more than three years ago. The former midfielder, who became manager of Stade Brestois, passed away the day after France’s victory over Senegal (3-1) in World Cup 2026 qualifying.

From Boston, Didier Deschamps released a statement hailing “a highly competent technician and a very engaging personality”. The France manager recalled Roy’s remarkable journey at the helm of Stade Brestois, crowned by a historic qualification for the Ligue des Champions. “It was with great pleasure that I presented him, two years ago, with the award for best Ligue 1 manager at the UNFP trophies,” he wrote.

Deschamps also wanted to emphasize the human dimension of someone he had known away from the pitch. “He fought against illness with a determination that commands respect. I will keep the memory of a profoundly human man,” added the manager, before extending his condolences to Éric Roy’s wife and children.

Guy Stéphan, Deschamps’ assistant, also expressed his sadness. “I am deeply saddened. I had the privilege of coaching him at Olympique Lyonnais for two years. He was a great professional, very conscientious,” he wrote, describing a man who “will leave a great void at Stade Brestois”.

Emotion also reached Roy’s former France teammates. Christophe Dugarry, who had known him in the national team, could not hold back his tears when speaking of “his friend”.

After a playing career notably marked by spells at Nice, Marseille and Bordeaux, Éric Roy took on several roles — manager, sporting director, general manager — before returning to the bench in 2023 to write with Brest one of the most unexpected chapters in recent French football.