Coach Alex “Goked” Kie has reached a verbal agreement with French team Gentle Mates, sources told Sheep Esports this Monday morning. The VALORANT's Spanish coach will face a new challenge after a year where he spent the first half at the head of Leviatan in the VCT Americas. He is set to return to VCT EMEA after a one-year absence, a region that saw him coach KOI in 2023 and before that CASE Esports in the VCL ecosystem.

His results include a top 3 finish in the first Stage of VCT Americas in 2024, followed by a top 9 in the Masters: Shanghai. Goked had received other interesting VCT head coaching offers, but he has decided to prioritize the Gentle Mates project over the rest.

Former Counter-Strike veteran and French coach Vincent "Happy" Schopenhauer was alongside with Goked the most considered option for M8. Happy is right now playing ascension as Head Coach of M80, he is focused on lifting the ascension trophy for now. Other VCT teams are interested in Happy. The french coach was the former teammate of Jonathan "TakaS" Paupard—current M8 player—in BDS and has been coaching M80 in the Challengers Americas circuit since 2023.

A restructuring following a tough year for Gentle Mates

This arrival means that the Gentle Mates project will greatly change, as they so far had a full-French roster. Goked’s recruitment is the start of a major restructuring for M8 as they will look for an international roster in 2025. Gentle Mates, although they were promoted to the VCT EMEA League, might still feel disappointed by their 2024 season with a 9th place and a 3-7 record that didn’t live up to the potential the roster showed.

It is important to note that Gentle Mates’ slot in the VCT EMEA League will be on the line this season. If they finish below the other promoted team, they will need to secure their spot after an Up&Down phase. M8 cannot afford a poor year in terms of results.