Fnatic parts ways with coach YoungBuck amid internal issues

William Davis Published 14/11/2019

Fnatic has parted ways with head coach Joey “YoungBuck” Steltenpool, who had overseen the team since 2018.

Fnatic is looking to enter 2020 with new coaching staff. The organization released coach YoungBuck, who led the team to the World Championship final in 2018. The change comes after an underwhelming result at the World Championship where Fnatic was knocked out in the quarterfinals despite high expectations.

YoungBuck leaves Fnatic

“This year, we still feel how painfully short we fell in two LEC splits before losing to FunPlus Phoenix at Worlds. We were obviously looking to create similar success in 2019, but we found ourselves quickly swamped by internal issues in Spring that we could not overcome as players and coaching staff by the year’s culmination,” wrote YoungBuck on a statement shared by Fnatic.

Fnatic has been open about internal issues. In episode two of Legends in Action, YoungBuck and the players addressed the general discontent. According to the video, the players were constantly blaming each other for the mistakes in-game and didn’t take responsibility for their own shortcomings.

More roster changes coming to Fnatic?

The hostile environment might be the reason behind YoungBuck’s departure. Rumors indicate that the head coach is not the only change for the team. According to different sources, the team is looking to renovate its roster and facilitate the transfer of at least some of its current players. Jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen is one of the possible transfers in the off-season.

The rumors place him in North America where organizations like Team SoloMid, who are actively looking for a jungler. North America is a region where European junglers and mid laners thrive, and the best example is the Danish trio of Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen, and Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg.

Martin “Rekkles” Larsson has also been rumored for a transfer, with Cloud9 being a potential destination as C9 debates its own roster’s future.

YoungBuck is also rumored to be joining the LCS, although the possible team is unclear at the moment. All roster changes will be confirmed after November 18 when free agency opens.

Read Also

Esports Betting

These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4 Ben Boland The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...

League of Legends

Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends Hannan Mundia After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...

Esports Betting

MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...

League of Legends

LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More Hannan Mundia 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...

League of Legends

LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more Hannan Mundia The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...

League of Legends

How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version? Hannan Mundia League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...

League of Legends

Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode Hannan Mundia League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...