Stade Brestois 29 confirmed the death of manager Eric Roy at age 58 following a three-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer. The Frenchman leaves behind his wife and two children, with the club describing him as deeply kind, tender, and honest in a heartfelt tribute.

Roy's coaching career peaked last season when he guided Brest to Champions League qualification for the 2024-25 campaign, securing the club's first-ever European appearance. His appointment in January 2023 proved transformative, taking the Ligue 1 side from mid-table to continental competition contention.

Before management, Roy played for Sunderland during the 1999-2000 season, scoring once in 27 appearances. He later served as sporting director at Watford in 2019 when they competed in the Premier League, bringing English football experience back to France.

Brest expressed difficulty finding words to capture their grief, emphasizing how Roy pushed players to surpass themselves while maintaining fairness and humanity. His legacy includes not just European qualification, but the personal development he fostered in everyone at the club.