The intersection of traditional and digital sports continues to evolve as former professional soccer player Nicklas Bendtner enters the esports arena with a major acquisition. Bendtner, a name familiar to football fans worldwide, has acquired 100% of the Danish esports organization Team Singularity. This move signals a significant step in his post-football career and his growing interest in esports.
Bendtner, who enjoyed a diverse football career with stints at English Premier League club Arsenal and Wolfsburg among others, announced his retirement from professional football three years ago. Since then, he has directed his competitive spirit towards the burgeoning field of esports. "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," Bendtner remarked, reflecting his enthusiasm for his new venture.
Legendary Gaming Group: A Digital Frontier
Central to Bendtner’s involvement in esports is his establishment of the Legendary Gaming Group. This investment and management company aims to revolutionize esports through innovative gaming experiences, elite talent development, and thrilling events. The group has already invested in notable entities such as New Breed Agency and Legendary Arena, with plans for a yet-to-be-named esports and gaming brand.
Joining Bendtner in this ambitious project are several key figures in the esports community, including Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, Tricked Esport founder Morten Jensen, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech. Stehouwer expressed his satisfaction with the new partnership: "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."
Building on a Storied Past
Team Singularity, a name with a legacy in the UK League of Legends scene, has been a staple of competitive gaming since as early as 2017. The team was notably part of the former ESL UK Premiership and has competed in the UK/Nordics League of Legends Championship (NLC). This acquisition marks a new chapter in the organization's history, breathing fresh life into their operational strategies and competitive goals. The team is already teasing an announcement set for August 1st, 2024, indicating exciting plans on the horizon.
Interestingly, Bendtner began his dive into esports by playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for the game transitioned into ownership of a small CSGO team named Prosapia Esport. Bendtner even participated in a showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals in November 2022, playing at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen for Team Denmark.
A Royal Touch
Nicknamed “Lord Bendtner” after Danish tabloid 'Se og Hør' purchased a square foot of land in Scotland for him in March 2015, Bendtner adds an element of royal charm to the esports world. His romantic association with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff, who hails from Danish royalty, further cements his regal moniker. Beyond his royal connections, Bendtner boasts the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in Premier League history, finding the net against Tottenham just 1.8 seconds after the ball was in play on December 22, 2007.
Collaborative Vision
As Bendtner and his team leap into esports, the industry stands to gain from their innovative approach and seasoned perspective. "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," Bendtner shared, indicating a dynamic and evolving organization structure. Legendary Gaming Group seems poised to make significant strides in the esports sector, promising a blend of high-value investments, strategic partnerships, and a passion for competitive gaming.
The esports community will undoubtedly watch closely as Bendtner’s Legendary Gaming Group charts its course. This venture could not only redefine how traditional sports figures transition into digital arenas but also elevate the standards and visibility of esports on a global scale.