MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

As a gamer with a decade-long passion for League of Legends and a soft spot for Spanish teams, I’ve seen my fair share of rebrands and mergers in the esports world. The latest news about MAD Lions KOI rebranding to just KOI for the 2025 EMEA Championship has me both intrigued and nostalgic.


For the upcoming League of Legends EMEA Championship in 2025, MAD Lions KOI is set to be known simply as KOI, with fans contributing to the rebranding process.

In a twist, the esports team MAD Lions KOI is set for another name change, and from the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), they will be known simply as KOI. This announcement was made by Iban Llanos on his Twitch stream. The full rebranding won’t be visible in the League of Legends scene until 2025.

MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

KOI organization journey

2021 saw popular Spanish streamer and League of Legends caster Iban LLanos, together with former FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué, bring MAD Lions under the KOI organization and rebrand the team as MAD Lions KOI, which is their current name.

MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

In 2022, following their LEC victory, Rogue revealed they were joining forces with KOI. This union resulted in a single organization managing two teams in the European League of Legends tournament. Initially, all Rogue teams adopted the KOI branding, but the partnership proved challenging and the team was restructured a year later.

In early 2024, OverActive Media signed a preliminary agreement to purchase the Spanish esports teams Movistar Riders and KOI. This deal encompassed all KOI’s esports properties and branding, such as their social media presence and copyrighted materials.

MAD Lions KOI (re)brand

For Spanish fans, the name MAD Lions KOI carries a deep significance: MAD originated from Madrid, the city where the team was established. The lion, their frequent emblem, is reminiscent of the lions from the Cibeles Fountain, an iconic landmark in the city. KOI stands for the organization’s name. Alongside the lion, they also symbolize Madrid with the seven stars, a reference to the capital’s flag.

MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

During his livestream, Ibai gave his followers a chance to contribute to MAD Lions KOI’s rebranding by selecting their preferred colors. This is quite unusual as it’s not often that a company owner allows the audience to participate in the creative decision-making process.

MAD Lions KOI rebranded for the next LoL Split

MAD Lions KOI year

2021 was a successful year for KOI from MAD Lions in the League of Legends competition, as they finished the European league in the third position, trailing only behind FNATIC and G2 Esports.

They earned a spot for the League of Legends Worlds 2024 Play-Ins with impressive performances that demonstrated their worth. During the tournament, they advanced to the Swiss Stage but were defeated by GAM Esports. We look forward to watching how they’ll perform in the next League of Legends season.

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2024-10-25 19:14

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