Former professional soccer player Nicklas Bendtner has made headlines once again, but this time for his off-the-field endeavors. Bendtner, known for his tenure with English Premier League club Arsenal and stints at Wolfsburg and other teams, has acquired 100% of Danish esports organization Team Singularity. This marks a significant move into the burgeoning world of esports for the Danish footballer.
Bendtner, who announced his retirement from professional football three years ago, has not been idle. He has set up an esports-focused investment and management company called Legendary Gaming Group. His new venture is already positioning itself as a formidable entity in the esports industry, claiming it is “revolutionising esports with cutting-edge gaming experiences, elite talent development, and thrilling events.”
Bendtner's New Endeavor
The Legendary Gaming Group has been strategically investing in various facets of esports, including New Breed Agency, Legendary Arena, and a yet-unnamed esports and gaming brand. Bendtner himself is transitioning from sports to esports with notable enthusiasm and vision. “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,” he said.
Joining Forces
Bendtner isn’t journeying into this new venture alone. He is joined by Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, Tricked Esport founder Morten Jensen, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and expertise in both traditional sports and esports. Stehouwer, reflecting on the transition, stated, “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 honoured 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.”
Team Singularity’s Legacy
Team Singularity has a storied history in the UK and Nordic esports scenes. The team has been active in the League of Legends NLC and was part of the old ESL UK Premiership dating back to 2017. Despite the closure of Tricked Esport last year, Team Singularity appears to have found a renewed sense of purpose and direction under Legendary Gaming Group’s stewardship.
In an intriguing teaser, Team Singularity hinted at an announcement set for August 1st, 2024, suggesting that big plans are underway for the future.
Bendtner’s Esports Journey
Bendtner’s interest in esports isn’t entirely new. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) and even owned a small CSGO team called Prosapia Esport. His involvement culminated in a performance in a high-profile showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals in Copenhagen in November 2022, where he played on Team Denmark.
Bendtner’s unconventional path into esports also includes a dash of humor and legacy; he was once romantically linked with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff from Danish royalty and humorously received the title of “Lord” after Danish tabloid 'Se og Hør' bought him a square foot of land in Scotland.
A Legend in Both Worlds
While Bendtner holds the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in Premier League history, his ambitions in esports are set to carve out a new title for him in a different kind of arena. As he integrates with the esports industry, his legacy as 'Lord Bendtner' continues to grow. Despite not having fully defined his role within the Legendary Gaming Group, he is committed to being actively involved and contributing significantly to its success.
As esports continues its meteoric rise, Bendtner’s transition from the football pitch to the digital arena signals a blend of traditional sports experience with cutting-edge digital engagement. With figures like Arsene Wenger recently stepping into the esports ecosystem as an ambassador for a new $100,000 FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager tournament, it’s clear that the convergence between traditional sports and esports is gaining momentum.
Nicklas Bendtner’s move is not just a personal milestone but also a testament to the evolving landscape of sports and esports, where boundaries are increasingly blurred, and new legends are born.