Harry "Gorilla" Mepham is set to join Movistar KOI, sources told Sheep Esports that a verbal agreement was found on Monday. The former VALORANT Vitality head coach will replace André "BARBARR" Möller for the next season as KOI is looking to restructure their team after a disappointing year. The Spanish organisation carried out a selection process in several stages for weeks to decide their head coach, in which Gorilla emerged. The players he plans to surround himself with are still uncertain, as Movistar KOI hasn’t decided yet who will be staying or leaving.

A well-stocked process

It was important for KOI to find someone who had more of a managerial profile, who was capable of correctly directing a group of players. A bit like James "Mac" MacCormack from MAD Lions’ previous LEC roster. In the first steps of the process, former VCT coaches such as Erik "Erik" Sandgren that led NAVI to champions in 2023 were eliminated despite being considered.

Then, in the second steps others were considered, such as Alex "goked" Kie who built the Leviatán roster this year, or Malkolm "bonkar" Rench, which is highly praised and should be a centerpiece at the coaching position during this offseason, in the NA as well as in Europe. Bonkar finally ended in really high positions to be the coach of KOI, the Swedish coach is high priority for a lot of VCT teams.

But until the very last week, T1 former head coach Dakota "Stunner" MacLeod was supposed to be the final answer from Movistar KOI. In the end, the Spanish org decided to turn the tables - the priority that KOI had on the former T1 coach dropped - and place their trust in Harry "Gorilla" Mepham. As of the assistant coach position, the team is trying to find someone who would fit with the Englishman, with an extensive knowledge of VALORANT in game.

A rough year

Movistar KOI had a very difficult year on the VCT EMEA stage, as the team found itself in last place in both 2024 splits. Although the team never changed any pieces throughout the season, they’re now at the dawn of a new and more ambitious beginning for 2025. The Spanish org is still looking to reach Champions, after falling short in 2023, despite being so close to it. For its part, Gorilla was the assistant coach of Vitality for all 2023 and the first split of this year.

As the Bees were not really improving their results, he was named head coach before the second split and the improvement was immediately obvious. His team went from 10th place to reaching the EMEA final, and qualifying for Champions. And yet, Vitality fell short to Leviatán - that finished third on the overall tournament - in the decider match of Group C.