FaZe Clan coach YNk wanted a bigger rebuild, talks IGL problems

FaZe’s former strategic coach Janko “YNk” Paunović revealed that only a complete organizational overhaul would have convinced him to remain with the struggling esports franchise.

• FaZe Clan drops coach YnK

The coaching veteran’s departure from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s competitive scene stemmed from fundamental disagreements about team development philosophy. During his appearance on HLTVConfirmed, YNk detailed the persistent in-game leadership deficiencies that ultimately forced his exit, emphasizing his proposed roster reconstruction featuring Justin “jks” Savage and Chris “dexter” Nong as the foundation for sustainable success.

“This approach required transitioning toward a more extensive roster reconstruction, replacing multiple core positions simultaneously. In my strategic assessment, recruiting dexter from Renegades as primary in-game leader represented a calculated risk worth taking – this player demonstrated clear potential that deserved organizational investment. Unfortunately, no concrete actions materialized from these proposals.” YNk explained during the detailed interview session.

The turbulent 2020 competitive season witnessed numerous team reshuffles, with Nikola “NiKo” Kovač’s complex transition to G2 Esports emerging as the year’s most significant roster movement. This departure created an immediate leadership void within FaZe, subsequently triggering the coach’s resignation. This pattern of leadership instability unfortunately represents familiar territory for the organization.

• NiKo goes from FaZe to G2 Esports in “biggest CSGO signing in history”

Following Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s departure from his leadership position, no subsequent candidate has successfully filled the strategic void. Despite this challenge, management continued pursuing various in-game leader possibilities throughout the season.

YNk’s Strategic IGL Candidates for FaZe Clan

The experienced coach identified several elite-tier players capable of rescuing the struggling organization. His priority selections included Filip “NEO” Kubski, Markus “pronax” Wallsten, and Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer for the critical in-game leadership role. FaZe additionally attempted to secure Robin “flusha” Rönnquist’s services, but he ultimately rejected their contract proposal.

The comprehensive list of potential FaZe in-game leaders extended further. Benjamin “blameF” Bremer and Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen also featured prominently on the organization’s recruitment radar. According to YNk’s professional evaluation, failing to secure these particular players represented one of the team’s most significant strategic errors.

Both blameF and Aleksib bring extensive competitive experience and proven leadership capabilities. Shortly after the Berlin Major concluded, both players were acquired by Complexity and OG respectively, eliminating the remaining viable in-game leader options from the available market.

• Complexity signs 100 Thieves’ jks

• OG Esports looks set to announce CSGO roster with Aleksib

FaZe’s subsequent strategic option centered on Alex “ALEX” McMeekin, a potential acquisition that YNk strongly advocated finalizing. However, this transaction collapsed due to undisclosed circumstances the coach declined to elaborate on publicly.

With both YNk and NiKo departing the organization, FaZe currently lacks definitive leadership capable of guiding the team toward consistent competitive success. Marcelo “coldzera” David has explicitly stated his preference against long-term in-game leadership responsibilities, forcing the organization into active recruitment mode for this critical position. With karrigan’s contractual obligations concluding in March 2021, industry sources indicate FaZe may attempt to reintegrate their former leader back into the team structure.

Professional Insight: Successful in-game leadership transitions require 3-6 months for full strategic integration. Teams often underestimate the adaptation period needed when changing primary shot-callers, leading to disappointing short-term results despite sound long-term planning. For organizations considering similar leadership structure changes, proper timeline allocation proves crucial for sustainable competitive improvement.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » FaZe Clan coach YNk wanted a bigger rebuild, talks IGL problems Former FaZe coach reveals his strategic vision for rebuilding the team's leadership structure and missed opportunities