Stade Brestois 29 paid an emotional tribute to former head coach Eric Roy before their Ligue 1 match against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, September 13, 2026, even as the team went on to lose 1-0 at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.
The fixture, the club's fourth of the Ligue 1 season, had been chosen to honor Roy, who died in June at the age of 58 from pancreatic cancer. The evening was filled with emotion, as expected.
Surrounded by Roy's family, Stade Brestois president Denis Le Saint laid a wreath of flowers in front of a mural depicting the former coach near the stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos and sporting advisor Luis Campos then laid a wreath of their own in the technical area beside the touchline benches, where Roy used to sit during matches.
Tributes on the pitch
What followed was a series of symbols and tributes. Players warmed up wearing t-shirts bearing the image of "King Eric," an idea put forward by the Ultras Brestois supporter group, who also unveiled a tifo reading "eternal Brestois" before kickoff. During the match itself, players wore a special "King" name printed on their shirts in place of their own.
The teams walked out onto the pitch to U2's "Magnificent," described as Roy's favorite song. Silence then fell over the stadium for an emotional speech delivered by Victoria-Rose Roy, his daughter.
Daughter's speech
Standing hand in hand with her mother, Loetitia Roy, Victoria-Rose said the family wanted to thank the team and the Brest University Hospital for having supported her father through his illness, as well as the supporters. She said there had been a great deal of love, and that football represented love, passion and connection, which was what he had passed on. She closed by wishing long life to Brest and thanking those present.
Brest and Roy
Roy managed Stade Brestois 29, the Ligue 1 club based in the Brittany port city of Brest, which plays its home matches at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. Paris Saint-Germain, Sunday's visitors, is one of the most successful clubs in French football history.
Brest did not get the win on the scoreline, falling 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. But their commitment to their former coach's memory held firm throughout the night, regardless of the result.
