Euan Ingram 🏴 · @TadpoleRL
22nd Jun 2022 from TwitLonger
Retirement (LFT as Coach/Manager)
Retiring from professional Rocket League - LFT as a coach & team manager, also open to other opportunities within Esports.
Today i’m announcing my retirement as a professional rocket league player, after 5 years of playing the game to a semi-professional and professional level. The Commonwealth Games event with Wales will be my last official tournament.
Why now?
Overall RLCS XI has been disappointing beyond words, I truly believed that Wolves could become the revival that my career needed, instead, it became a constant spiral of disappointing results. Those who know me well enough know that with every one of those disappointments, I had to ask myself if I was good enough anymore. Making regional one for Spring Split was a glimpse at the potential that was always there from when we first signed to Wolves, but sadly we could never create this consistently. Realistically, this sort of event is what the last couple of years of my career have become, working for a year to see a day of playing the level that I love to play at, and it hurts because in those days I get to see why I love to compete but now those days are too few and far between.
In April, I suddenly lost a relationship that was very special to me, it wasn’t anyone’s fault but watching that crumble at the same time as my career led to a spiral that sent me to a very dark place as a person, where over the last two months every single day has been a constant battle with anxiety, depression and my own thoughts. I’m getting better slowly, and this of course isn’t the reason I’m leaving playing behind, but I am at a point in my life that I need to do a lot of healing and open a new chapter, and I don’t think my playing career is suited to that anymore.
My drive for success in Rocket League has never faltered, from watching MLG back in 2015 and falling in love with the game, to making worlds myself and all the way to now, but every player knows drive isn’t a guarantee of success. I was one of those kids that left school with no real plan, I drifted between jobs and eventually fell into Rocket League, it gave me a purpose for the first time in my life and I’m incredibly grateful to have had my chance in this game. I feel like i’m losing a big part of what makes me who I am but I know that this is the time it has to happen, and I hope that it’ll allow me the bit of space I need to grow in other aspects of my life, reigniting lost friendships and generally finding out who I am again. Despite that, I know that as much as i’m done as a player, i’m not done with Rocket League.
What’s next?
I’ve always said that when I was done competing I would love a chance to coach Rocket League, in over 5 years of playing from bubble level all the way to Worlds i’ve gained an extensive knowledge that I believe I can use towards the success of a team like a plethora of other ex-players currently coaching teams at the top level.
If any teams or organisations would be interested in talking for any coach/manager roles, please DM me on twitter or discord (Tadpole#8522). I can provide a CV and full experience on request.
I’m open to opportunities across all RLCS regions as well as within CRL & WCBC and I’m hopeful that despite not being able to show my commitment to winning on the pitch anymore that I’ll be able to show it on this new adventure with some quality players.
I’ll also be looking at opportunities to work with organisations that would like to enter Rocket League soon or in the future.
To everyone who’s supported me across the years, and there’s so many of you, thank you so much for your belief in me. My career had a lot of ups and downs, probably more than most, but i'll only look back at it with positive memories.
Time for a new chapter.
-Tadpole
TL;DR - I’m a trash player so I've decided to become the best coach in the world instead.
To my family: I know that you’ll all read this, I also know that you’ll be more sad for me than anyone else. I could never have become anything in this game without the unconditional support you’ve given me all these years. When I took the leap into this, I told you that I’d make a world championship someday and it’s the proudest achievement of my life that I managed to stay true to my word. This year has broken me as a person, i’ve had to fundamentally question who I am, and who i’m going to be from now on, but even at my lowest points I know that i’ll be okay, and that’s because of you guys.