Liquid parts ways with performance coach Edward Cleland: "Both parties felt it was time to part ways"

Team Liquid announced today they are parting ways with health/performance coach Edward Cleland, who has been with the team since December 2023.

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In a statement provided to Dust2.us, Cleland confirmed that IEM Dallas had been his last event with the team, but said he had held off sharing his departure publicly so as not to distract from their Major run. Cleland says he did not work with Liquid leading up to or during the Major, including during the bootcamp. In a follow-up comment, Cleland stated:

Both parties felt it was time to part ways. In TL’s current state it became difficult to move the group forward together cohesively.

Cleland clarified that it was a mutual decision, and had "nothing negative to share," calling Liquid and its leadership "top of class." Cleland echoed those sentiments on X, thanking the Liquid organization, the players, and GM Steve "jokasteve" Perino.

Prior to Liquid, Cleland worked as health/performance coach, manager, or consultant for a variety of various esports organizations, including several familiar to NA fans like Complexity, NRG, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, M80, G2, and Nouns. Cleland's first task after arriving at Liquid was hosting a five-day retreat in the Netherlands to build team chemistry, which was chronicled in an official Team Liquid blog video.

As for Liquid today, Cleland's departure comes ahead of more anticipated changes. Following the team's elimination from the Austin Major, long-time member Keith "NAF" Markovic admitted that he wasn't sure about his status on the team going forward. This came after Russell "Twistzz" Van Dulken said that the team was feeling "a bit exhausted" from the pre-Major boot camp. Liquid also has to address their long-term coaching needs, with analyst Jay "DeMars DeRover" Li serving as interim head coach during the Major.

As the post-Major roster shuffle begins to take shape, many NA fans will have their eyes peeled for any more changes coming to Liquid.