G2 Esports taps Perkz as head coach ahead of Esports World Cup, signaling esports’ growing coaching market

Luka “Perkz” Perković is coming home. But this time, he won’t be the one clicking.

G2 Esports announced on July 3 that the legendary League of Legends mid-laner will rejoin the organization as head coach, effective July 10. He replaces Dylan Falco, who has been moved to the inactive roster. The timing is anything but accidental: the Esports World Cup kicks off in Riyadh on July 15, giving Perkz roughly five days to settle in before the biggest event on the 2026 esports calendar.

The Perkz factor

Perkz was the heartbeat of G2’s golden era in the League of Legends European Championship. During his time as a player, he helped the organization secure multiple LEC titles and become one of the most recognizable brands in European esports. He left G2 in 2020, and the team has been searching for that same magic ever since.

G2’s announcement leaned into the nostalgia, noting that “his legacy continues.” The organization described his new position as positional coach, suggesting he’ll work closely with individual players on lane-specific strategy rather than just overseeing draft phases and macro calls.

Dylan Falco, who joined G2 at the end of 2021, had a solid but unspectacular tenure. Moving him to the inactive roster rather than outright releasing him is a common esports maneuver, keeping contractual options open while making room for new leadership.

The Esports World Cup and rising stakes

The EWC 2026 runs July 15 through 19 in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a major force in competitive gaming through its Esports World Cup Foundation, pouring significant resources into prize pools and production value that make the tournament impossible for top organizations to ignore.

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