FaZe Clan have officially removed Filip “NEO” Kubski from his position as head coach of their CS2 roster. The organization confirmed the decision on X, bringing an end to a partnership that lasted close to three years.
The move comes during a prolonged rough patch for the international lineup. While FaZe still carry one of the most talented rosters in Counter-Strike, results have fallen well short of expectations in recent months. With the IEM Cologne Major roster lock deadline fast approaching, the team clearly felt a change was necessary.
How NEO Ended Up at FaZe
NEO joined FaZe back in July 2023. He came in after Robert “RobbaN” Dahlstrom chose to step down from the coaching role and move into a different position within the organization. RobbaN had been behind some of FaZe’s biggest wins, so NEO was walking into a tough situation from day one.
His arrival also lined up with the shift from CS:GO to CS2, which made it hard to know how any team would perform in the new game. FaZe adapted quickly, though. They became one of the strongest teams in CS2 early on and looked right at home with the new mechanics and gameplay changes.
The Highs Under NEO
The early results spoke for themselves. FaZe won IEM Sydney 2023, which was the first CS2 tournament, and went on to make eight straight Grand Final appearances. They won four of those finals. That is a dominant stretch by any measure, and NEO deserves credit for keeping the team organized and competitive during such a turbulent transition period.
Where Things Went Wrong
After that strong run, FaZe’s form dropped off. They did reach two Major Grand Finals, which is still a solid achievement, but the team failed to deliver consistent results beyond those deep runs. For a roster with this much talent and history, that kind of inconsistency was hard to ignore.
FaZe’s struggles were on full display at IEM Krakow 2026, and continued through ESL Pro League Season 23 where they exited in 12th-14th place. Coaching changes are often the first move organizations make when results dip. It is less disruptive than swapping out players, especially when roster locks are right around the corner.
What Happens Next for FaZe
FaZe have announced that their analyst, Dominik “GruBy” Swiderski, will serve as interim head coach for the time being. The team is evaluating its options for a permanent replacement.
There are already rumors circulating about who might take the role. Ashley “ash” Battye, who previously coached GamerLegion, has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Nothing is confirmed on that front, though.
Fans will get their first look at FaZe without NEO at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, which is coming up soon. It will be worth watching whether any tactical or structural changes are visible that early after the coaching switch.
NEO’s Next Move
NEO has not made any public statement about the decision so far. It remains unclear whether he plans to pursue another coaching role immediately or take some time away from competition. His experience in the game and his calm approach to coaching would make him an attractive option for plenty of teams looking for stability.
