G2 Bench Dylan Falco, Promote Perkz to Head Coach

G2 Esports are shaking up the backroom ahead of the LEC Summer Split. The organization has benched head coach Dylan Falco and promoted longtime fixture Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković to take over the reins. The change comes after a mixed Spring Split that saw G2 reach the MSI 2024 but struggle domestically, finishing third in the regular season before a semifinal knockout against Fnatic. Falco had been at the helm since November 2022, replacing the previous coaching staff led by Rodrigo ‘Rigby’ Oliveira.

Falco’s tenure included a rebuild that yielded an LEC title in Summer 2023 and a return to international competition at Worlds 2023, where G2 exited in the Swiss stage with a 2-3 record. However, inconsistency in drafts and macro decision-making drew criticism during the 2024 season. Perkz, a legendary mid laner who transitioned to coaching earlier this year, now steps into the spotlight with a mandate to tighten the team’s strategic identity.

G2’s Coaching Shuffle Ahead of Summer Split

Dylan Falco’s departure ends a period of mixed results. Under his guidance, G2 won the LEC Summer 2023 championship, beating Excel Esports 3-0 in the final, and qualified for Worlds 2023 where they took games off Gen.G and G2 but failed to advance. The 2024 Spring Split brought a third-place finish in the regular season with a 10-8 record, followed by a 2-3 loss to Fnatic in the playoff semifinals. Their MSI 2024 run ended in the play-in stage with a 1-2 record against PSG Talon and a loss to Team Liquid. Falco’s draft priorities often centered on scaling compositions, which struggled against aggressive early-game teams like MAD Lions KOI.

For G2, the promotion of Perkz is a bet on institutional knowledge and raw competitive experience. The 25-year-old Croatian is one of the most decorated Western players in history, with eight LEC titles and an MSI 2019 trophy to his name. He played for G2 from 2016 to 2020 as a mid laner, then returned in 2022 as a bot laner before retiring from competitive play in early 2023. He moved into a coaching role with G2’s academy team in Summer 2023, then became the main squad’s strategic coach prior to Spring 2024, serving as an assistant under Falco. His deep understanding of the roster’s dynamics—having played alongside Caps, Mikyx, and Hans Sama—gives him a unique perspective.

Perkz’s Transition from Player to Coach

Perkz first stepped into coaching with G2’s academy team in 2023, working with prospects like Rodrigo ‘Rodi’ Oliveira and initiating a structured development pipeline. His promotion to head coach follows a trend in Western esports where former star players take the reins—similar to Reapered at Cloud9 or YamatoCannon at various teams. But Perkz’s own legendary status adds unusual pressure: he is expected to blend his championship-winning mentality with modern coaching methods. G2’s management has backed this move by offering Perkz a multi-year contract, signaling long-term faith in his leadership.

• Dylan Falco has been benched as G2 head coach after less than two years in the role, effective immediately.
• Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković is promoted from assistant/strategic coach to head coach, his first head coaching role in the LEC.
• G2 finished third in the LEC Spring 2024 regular season with a 10-8 record and lost in the playoff semifinals 2-3 to Fnatic.
• The team qualified for MSI 2024 via championship points but exited in the play-in stage, losing to PSG Talon and Team Liquid.

What This Means for G2’s Summer

The coaching change signals a strategic pivot at a critical moment. The LEC Summer Split begins in June, and G2 will need to earn championship points to secure a spot at Worlds 2024. Currently, G2 sits at 140 points from Spring, third behind Fnatic (200) and MAD Lions KOI (180). A strong Summer performance—at least a top-two finish—is essential to avoid the regional finals pressure. Perkz inherits a roster with clear talent: Caps, Hans Sama, Mikyx, BrokenBlade, and Yike. But this group has historically relied on individual outplays rather than systematic macro. Expect Perkz to emphasize structure, draft flexibility, and a more disciplined mid-game approach, drawing from his own experience as a shotcaller during G2’s golden era.

The move also puts Perkz’s leadership under an immediate microscope. As a player he was known for his bravado and clutch moments; as a coach he will need to manage egos, delegate responsibilities, and adapt quickly to the evolving meta. G2’s first test comes in Week 1 of Summer against Team Heretics, a team that finished fourth in Spring and boasts a strong early-game record. Perkz’s draft decisions and in-game adjustments will be scrutinized from the first match.

G2 Esports will open their LEC Summer Split campaign on June 8, 2024, against Team Heretics. Perkz’s first draft as head coach—likely to feature his signature aggressive picks like Sylas or Akali—will be the immediate talking point among analysts and fans alike.