UK Rocket League personality Mike ‘Gregan’ Ellis has announced his retirement from full-time esports in an update this weekend.
The former Rocket League coach, caster and creator, who has since worked in Pokémon esports, has started a full-time role as TCG (trading card game) product manager at online retailer Zatu Games.
The news comes after Gregan returned to coaching last November.
Gregan said in this post on X (formerly known as Twitter): “It’s time to retire. I have been fortunate to be a part of Rocket League esports since before RLCS Season 1 and quickly it became the centre of my life. I have been a coach, a caster, a competitor, a content creator but most of all, a part of the community. Thank you for all the support and memories and I wish everyone still involved the best of luck going forward.
“In the last six months, I have realised this esports life wasn’t for me anymore. Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to find myself a stable job that is suited perfectly for me. Last week was my first full week of a 9-5 job and it felt amazing. I feel safe, like I have purpose and can support my future ambitions for a house, family and regularity.
“I will be TCG Product manager for a huge online retailer called Zatu Games and will be able to work on something I love massively, in-person at an office with a great team of people.”
It doesn’t mean the door to esports is fully closed. Zatu Games is allowing Gregan to continue working as broadcast talent alongside his job, and he will be working as a Pokémon TCG commentator now and then, but it won’t be as full-on in esports as it once was. Gregan told Esports News UK that his full-time job is his key priority now.
Gregan is still open to the occasional piece of Rocket League work too.
“I have worked from home in an unstable industry most of my adult life and it’s drained me, which certainly effected my ability to coach well, especially with Top Cougars. It’s time to begin something where I can think six months, one year, five years into the future and have my evenings and weekends back!”
Gregan
Gregan took the time to thank players like RelatingWave, Accro and Toxiic, as well as Simas, UK esports organisation Endpoint, Vitality, Guild Esports, former Psyonix and more, including former Rocket League product manager Cory Lanier.
“I will be at the London Major and will be enjoying it as fan and member of the community, so see you there,” Gregan added.
“Thank you. Thank you for the most surreal, wonderful and crazy 8+ years. Make sure you spread kindness and support to all pros, casters and coaches as well around the community, there’s a lot of pressure out there and everyone deserve respect for putting themselves on the line.”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
