The Fnatic roster will be without new Head Coach Dylan Falco for the team’s first game of the EU LCS Summer Split vs Misfits. In his place, Fnatic’s Manager and previous interim coach Finlay “Quaye” Stewart will act as the team’s on-stage coach for ‘what will hopefully be the last time’ as the heavyweight eSports organisation waits for Dylan’s visa to process.
Even in 2017, the bane of work visas continues to blight the professional eSports scene. Falco’s absence from the opening week of EU LCS fixtures was an expected issue for Fnatic, who outlined the possible return of Quaye’s coaching responsibilities within the ex-Immortals Head Coach’s team announcement.
Important part in the announcement. Hopefully Dylan’s VISA will be approved, if not however, i’ll take to the stage again for the first week pic.twitter.com/4Wou09CJOs
— Finlay Quaye Stewart (@fnaticquaye) 23 May 2017
Coach update. I will be on stage today for what will (hopefully) be the last time. @DylanFalcoLoL visa is still processing. #fncwin !
— Finlay Quaye Stewart (@fnaticquaye) 1 June 2017
Fnatic’s coaching issues were widely publicised during the 2017 Spring Split: dodgy drafts, miserable morale, troubling teamplay, at one point or another, the roster endured every issue a team can experience within a single split.
After a catastrophic nine weeks in the EU LCS Spring Split, featuring a number of even-more disastrous team compositions, the heavyweight European organisation finally acted to relieve Head Coach Nicholas “NicoThePico” Korsgård of his duties.

In his place Finlay “Quaye” Stewart stepped in as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the split. Quaye had previously self-confessed to being devoid of in-depth League of Legends knowledge, expressing his reliance on the team’s analysts and challenger coach to guide the team through their difficult period.
Irregardless, Fnatic’s recovery was near instantaneous, beating Misfits after posing a serious threat to G2 eSports in their previous fixture. FNC provided the biggest upset of the playoffs, cleanly dispatching H2K with a 3-0 victory. The team’s fanbase and the wider League of Legends community were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief, as Fnatic unveiled an assortment of weird and wonderful picks.
GG WP @H2KGG! Amazing series from start to finish for our boys, they sweep the series 3-0 & earn their spot in Hamburg #EULCS #FNCWIN pic.twitter.com/1m7ak5Rfpe
— FNATIC (@FNATIC) 9 April 2017
For now at least, Fnatic fans will need to wait to see their new Head Coach leading the troops on stage. With an established pedigree having coached Team EnVyUs, Immortals and Team SoloMid in North America, Fnatic will be hoping Falco can translate his experience into EU LCS success.
As Quaye prepares to step back from the stage spotlights for the last time, he will be hoping his final contribution is to deliver an ideal start to FNC’s Summer Split and World Championship ambitions.
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