FaZe Clan, on Thursday, July 27, announced the appointment of an interim head coach for FaZe Clan:GO. FaZe Clan announced the temporary appointment of legendary former Counter-Strike 1.6 and CS:GO player NEO on Twitter.
NEO will be replacing Robert “RobbaN” Dahlström after he decided to do another line of career during the off-season. RobbaN made the decision on July 13. The appointment of NEO had been making the rounds, but confirmation came from FaZe just before they made the IEM Cologne 2023 group stage debut.
“HE’S BACK. Please welcome the new interim Head Coach of FaZe Clan Counter-Strike, @neo_fkubski! He’ll make his first appearance standing behind our boys this weekend in Cologne. #FaZeUp” the statement read.
It’s NEO’s second parade with FaZe after running as their in-game leader between May 2019 to September 2019. NEO previously won the EMS One Katowice Major in 2014 with Virtus Pro.
However, this is the first time that the Polish legend will be running in the category of head coach in CS esports, having previously played professionally between 2000 to 2022.
He is one of the most skilled players in the game’s pro scene and is also considered as CS GOAT. After his move to CS:GO in 2012, he quit professional play in 2019.
Meanwhile, RobbaN won several titles for FaZe in his time, including IEM Cologne in July 2022 and ESL Pro League Season 17 in March 2023.
This will definitely put NEO under the pressure to succeed at an important tournament like IEM Cologne. A Valve ban ensured that RobbaN couldn’t stand behind the team at PGL Antwerp Major in 2022.
Karrigan, FaZe’a in-game leader karrigan, at an interview during the BLAST Premier Fall Groups earlier this month, states that RobbaN’s exit has been a shocking one to the team.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
