Coach Jakob “YamatoCannon” Mebdi has announced his departure from the League of Legends EMEA Championship team (LEC), Fnatic.

“I think just the timing, overall, it makes sense for me to move on,” he said in his livestream. “They needed a little shift in the dynamic and I can understand that.”

He was the head coach of Fnatic for Season 11 and 12, and led former star players like Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau and Zdravets “Hylissang” Iliev Galabov. With his help, Fnatic placed third in LEC Spring and Summer 2022, and represented the region at Worlds 2021 and 2022.

“His energy and attitude made these last two years truly memorable, and his presence in the team continuously helped us push forward against the odds, even when things looked hard and impossible,” team director Javi “Dardo” Zafra said in an official statement.

What’s next for YamatoCannon? The former Fnatic coach might become a talent on the LEC broadcast

After weighing his options, the Swedish coach has decided that he will not compete in LEC Spring 2023. He will take a short break to focus on his health and family, and create more League of Legends content.

“I reached out to the teams that were interesting to me,” he explained. “Sadly, a lot of those positions were already filled.”

He also considered working in the Japanese and Korean regions, but “[did] not pursue it wholeheartedly.”

Fans might still be able to see YamatoCannon in the LEC, but on the desk as an analyst.

“Knowing that the new format is coming, I am open to the idea of a full-time position on the LEC broadcast,” he said.

Additionally, he is also considering doing some voice-acting work while he is on a break from competitive tournaments.

YamatoCannon started his esports career in 2011 as a pro player. After playing for three years, he switched roles and led Team Vitality, Splyce (later renamed MAD Lions), and Fnatic as a head coach.

He moved to the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) in 2020, where he became the first foreign head coach in the LCK after joining Liiv SANDBOX. After one Summer split, he moved back to the LEC to join Fnatic.

Watch the highlights of his livestream here.

Check out our exclusive interview with Faker, Bwipo’s status for LCS 2023, and T1’s full League of Legends roster.

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