Stade Brestois striker Ludovic Ajorque has paid an emotional tribute to former head coach Éric Roy following the manager's death from pancreatic cancer earlier this summer.
The 32-year-old forward spoke about his personal relationship with the former manager in an interview with Ligue 1 broadcaster Ligue 1+, excerpts of which were released on Thursday ahead of Brest's league match against Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday.
Tribute to a Manager
Ajorque described Roy as a truly good person who maintained a close bond with the squad and gave him constant guidance while allowing him freedom on the pitch. He credited the coach with putting the human element first and reviving his career after a difficult stint at German club Mainz.
The striker, who joined Stade Brestois in 2024 after an unconvincing spell in Germany, expressed his gratitude to Roy for restoring his enjoyment of football. He said the manager had given him everything from the moment he arrived at the club.
Ajorque also revealed that while players privately suspected something was wrong, Roy never explicitly discussed his illness with the team during the season. It was only after Brest secured their top-flight survival at the end of the campaign that the coach informed the squad he was facing a difficult situation, though he did not reveal the exact nature of his condition.
Despite his health struggles, Roy assured the squad that he remained fully behind them and encouraged them even when he was less frequently present around the team.
Upcoming Stadium Tribute
Stade Brestois will honor Roy's memory this Sunday at Stade Francis-Le Blé during their fourth Ligue 1 match of the season against visiting Paris Saint-Germain. The tribute comes nearly three months after the former Nice native died on June 17 at the age of 58.
The full interview featuring Ajorque's recollections will air across the Ligue 1+ network over the upcoming weekend, following the preview clip shared on social media on Thursday.
Career and Club Context
Roy, a native of Nice who played as a midfielder during his professional career, took charge of Stade Brestois in Ligue 1 before his death from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a severe form of cancer that develops in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach that plays a key role in digestion and blood sugar regulation.
Stade Brestois 29 is a French professional football club based in Brest, Brittany. Competing in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football, the club plays its home matches at Stade Francis-Le Blé. Ligue 1 features 18 clubs competing annually for the French national championship.
Ajorque, 32, had previously played in the German Bundesliga for Mainz 05 before moving to Brest in 2024. Mainz 05 is a professional football club based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, that competes in Germany's top division.
