Nicklas Bendtner Transitions from Football Pitch to Esports Arena
In a striking move from the world of professional football to the digital battleground of esports, former professional soccer player Nicklas Bendtner has acquired full ownership of Danish esports organisation Team Singularity. Bendtner, who has had a storied career playing for clubs such as Arsenal in the English Premier League and Wolfsburg, has set his sights on revolutionizing the esports landscape.
Three years after hanging up his boots, Bendtner has ventured into the burgeoning industry of competitive gaming, establishing the Legendary Gaming Group, an investment and management company focused on esports. Through this entity, he aims to introduce cutting-edge gaming experiences, nurture elite talent, and host thrilling events.
The Legendary Gaming Group has already made significant strides, investing in New Breed Agency, Legendary Arena, and a yet-unnamed esports and gaming brand. Joining Bendtner at Legendary Gaming Group are notable industry figures such as Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, Tricked Esport founder Morten Jensen, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech.
"I am really pleased with the team we have assembled at Legendary and look forward to being part of something bigger in an industry I am fascinated by,” commented Bendtner. “My own role in the company will be an active one, but what the exact title will be is not 100% decided yet, as it also depends on what roles the other sports profiles coming in will have.”
Both Team Singularity and Tricked have had a notable presence in the UK/Nordics League of Legends NLC and have been integral players in the early days of the UK League of Legends scene. However, Tricked Esport closed its doors last year. Team Singularity, established since at least 2017, was once a part of the old ESL UK Premiership and has remained a staple in the esports community.
Stehouwer expressed his enthusiasm about the new partnership, stating, “For the past two years, after being passive in Team Singularity’s operations, I’ve been in talks with numerous potential partners about various opportunities in the market and potentially starting something new. I’m thrilled and honored to have found a proper home for Team Singularity under the Legendary Gaming Group wings and to have been able to bring a strong ownership group together to form the foundation of Legendary Gaming Group.”
Bendtner's foray into esports began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he started playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). He even owned a small CSGO team called Prosapia Esport. In a notable appearance, Bendtner participated in a showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals in November 2022, representing Team Denmark at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen.
Adding a touch of intrigue to his persona, Bendtner’s noble moniker “Lord Bendtner” originated from a Danish celebrity tabloid that bought him a square foot of land in Scotland, allowing him to claim the title. This, alongside his past relationship with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff, who is of Danish royalty, has only amplified his public profile.
Bendtner also holds the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in Premier League history, netting a goal just 1.8 seconds after entering the field against Tottenham on December 22, 2007.
As Team Singularity gears up for an announcement scheduled for August 1st, 2024, it marks a new chapter under the Legendary Gaming Group's banner. With Bendtner’s ambition and the combined expertise of industry veterans like Stehouwer and Jensen, the future looks promising for this esports venture.
In a related esports development, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was recently announced as an ambassador for a new $100,000 FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager esports tournament, highlighting the growing intersection between traditional sports figures and the esports domain.