100 Thieves confirm gla1ve as head coach, cementing an experience-first rebuild in CS2

North American organization 100 Thieves has officially appointed Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander as head coach of its Counter-Strike 2 program, confirming an earlier HLTV report and giving the four-time Major champion his first coaching role. The announcement follows Rossander’s retirement from professional play last month and marks the second major pillar—after Håvard “rain” Nygaard’s signing—in 100 Thieves’ high-profile return to Counter-Strike. 

From Astralis icon to 100T’s bench boss

Rossander, widely regarded as one of Counter-Strike’s most accomplished in-game leaders, closed a decorated playing career that includes four CS:GO Major titles and an IEM Grand Slam with Astralis. After a stint at ENCE that ended with a benching mid-2025, he publicly declared he was stepping away from competition to pursue coaching—a transition now realized with 100 Thieves. The move also comes just days after ENCE formally confirmed his contract had expired and wished him well in the next chapter. 

In a late-November interview around his retirement, gla1ve said he believed he had “something extraordinary to offer as a coach,” citing the chance to shape rosters structurally rather than from inside the server. That messaging aligns with 100 Thieves’ current approach: build a system with veteran leadership, then add complementary pieces. 

The broader 100 Thieves project: third CS stint, Europe base, and a star signing already in place

Gla1ve’s arrival is part of a broader, clearly staged plan. 100 Thieves publicly re-entered Counter-Strike in November 2025, their third stint in the title, and unveiled a commercial partnership that will see the team compete as 100 Thieves Roobet with operations rooted in Europe—including a facility in Serbia to anchor practice and content. The organization simultaneously strengthened its leadership group by naming Sean “seang@res” Gares Head of FPS and Graham “messioso” Pitt Head of CS Operations. 

On the roster front, rain became the first player revealed in mid-November, ending nearly a decade with FaZe to take on an IGL role for the new lineup. Official team pages and player profiles now list him under 100 Thieves. 

HLTV also reported this month that Nicolai “device” Reedtz is expected to join as the team’s AWPer, a move that would reunite the legendary Danish duo of device and gla1ve from their Astralis era. As of publication, that transfer has not been formally announced by 100 Thieves; it remains a credible, widely cited report rather than a done deal. 

Why gla1ve, and why now?

From a competitive standpoint, the hire checks multiple boxes. First, pedigree: no coach candidate brings more big-match experience than a four-time Major-winning captain who architected one of the most dominant tactical systems in CS history. Second, timing: with CS2’s meta still evolving and 100 Thieves assembling a roster nearly from scratch, the chance to imprint playbook, protocols, and practice culture from day one is unusually clean. Finally, familiarity: if the device signing materializes, the coach-AWPer axis would be based on years of shared language inside elite Danish Counter-Strike. 

Gla1ve also arrives with recent perspective outside the Astralis bubble. His 2024–2025 period at ENCE—ending in July when he was moved to the bench, then separation at contract end—exposed him to a different organizational context and player pool before he chose to retire and pivot to coaching. That interlude matters: it broadened his vantage point on mixed-nationality rosters, an increasingly standard reality in CS2. 

100 Thieves’ Counter-Strike timeline: lessons learned

This is 100 Thieves’ third attempt to establish a long-term Counter-Strike presence:

• 2017: The org signed the ex-Immortals Brazilian lineup, but immigration hurdles and subsequent changes meant the team never played an official match under the banner before parting ways in early 2018.

• 2019–2020: 100 Thieves returned by acquiring the Renegades roster, recording notable placings (including 2nd at IEM Beijing 2019) before exiting CS late in 2020 amid COVID-era travel constraints and a shifting competitive landscape.

• 2025: The org announced a Europe-anchored return to CS2 with a sponsorship from Roobet and a new operational leadership group, then began roster construction with rain and now gla1ve as head coach.

The throughline is instructive: this time the plan is unmistakably process-first—secure infrastructure and staff, then bring in championship-caliber veterans around whom younger pieces can be added.

What the depth chart looks like today (and what’s still missing)

As of now, 100 Thieves have publicly confirmed rain as the first player and gla1ve as head coach. HLTV’s team page reflects that composition, with no official second or third starters listed at the time of writing. If device joins as reported, the team would still require at least three additional players to form a full starting five and to qualify for a VRS (Valve Regional Standings) ranking as the 2026 season begins. 

Because 100T’s project is Europe-based, the remaining signings are expected to draw heavily from the European talent pool. Leadership at the org has publicly emphasized fit and role balance over nationality—consistent with seang@res and messioso’s early comments about building “the best possible players that suit us.” 

The stakes for gla1ve’s debut year on the sideline

For Rossander personally, success will be measured less in immediate trophies and more in the speed and clarity with which 100 Thieves develop a recognizable identity in CS2. His Astralis teams were known for utility precision, mid-round structure, and anti-stratting depth. Translating those hallmarks to a new game, new players, and a different org culture is the challenge—and part of the appeal he cited when explaining the shift to coaching. 

On the organizational side, the hire reinforces the message that 100 Thieves’ return is long-term. After two short-lived chapters in 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, the combination of a European base, senior competitive leadership, and a proven champion on the bench suggests a blueprint designed to weather early turbulence and build toward 2026’s tent-pole events.