After over 11 years at Team Secret, Puppey joins PARIVISION for his debut coaching stint.
Legendary Dota 2 player and The International 2011 (TI1) champion 
Clement “Puppey” Ivanov has made a major pivot in his long-running career, officially joining top-tier Eastern European (EEU) team 
PARIVISION as their coach and departing from his 11-year role with 
Team Secret. This move also marks Puppey’s first coaching stint in his nearly two-decade-long career as a professional player.
The confirmation follows a two-month period in which Puppey had been informally coaching PARIVISION. He first stepped in ahead of DreamLeague Season 27 in December which saw immediate improvements in team results as they secured a third place finish.
While PARIVISION had been a strong contender earlier in the season, the team experienced a decline in form following TI 2025 last September. A 9th–11th place finish at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 and a Top 6 finish at PGL Wallachia Season 6 ultimately led to the departure of their then coach Filipe Astini.
With Puppey stepping in on short notice, PARIVISION closed out the year impressively. Fans speculated whether his involvement was a temporary favour or a long-term commitment–a question now finally answered.
An end of an era: Puppey departs Team Secret to embark on a coaching journey
Puppey’s transition into coaching comes as little surprise, following a long and illustrious career that has dimmed in recent years. But many wouldn't have expected it to be with any other team than Team Secret itself.
Puppey is best known for becoming Dota 2’s first world champion–winning TI1 with 
Natus Vincere–and establishing himself as one of the game’s greats. He then became a central figure in the history of Team Secret, having built multiple dominant and successful line-ups since forming the team in 2014. He has numerous tournament victories under his belt with his last best performance being a runner-up finish at TI 2022.
However, Puppey have struggled to replicate that level of success in the years since. The team endured difficulties during the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) era, then failed to qualify consistently for Tier 1 tournaments, leading to repeated roster changes in search of results.
Since June last year, Team Secret have had no active players on their roster aside from Puppey himself, who now leaves the bench empty–ending a prominent era filled with historic legacies. Despite stepping away from the team’s active roster, Puppey remains listed as director of Team Secret on Liquipedia.
A stacked schedule ahead
Puppey’s official appointment comes as the January qualifier stretch wraps up and the world’s top Dota 2 teams prepare for a packed competitive month in February.
He is set to make his official coaching debut with PARIVISION in DreamLeague Season 28, beginning 16 February. The team will then compete in PGL Wallachia Season 7 (7–15 March), followed by ESL One Birmingham (22–29 March).
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