Nicklas Bendtner Acquires Danish Esports Organisation Team Singularity
Nicklas Bendtner, the former professional soccer player famed for his stint with English Premier League club Arsenal and several other top-tier teams, has now taken a significant stride into the world of esports. Three years after announcing his retirement from football, Bendtner has acquired 100% of Danish esports organisation Team Singularity.
Having set up an esports-focused investment and management company named Legendary Gaming Group, Bendtner is now eager to leave his mark on the burgeoning esports industry. The group has already invested in New Breed Agency, Legendary Arena, and an as yet-unnamed esports and gaming brand. They ambitiously claim to be ‘revolutionising esports with cutting-edge gaming experiences, elite talent development, and thrilling events’.
Joining Bendtner at Legendary Gaming Group are some seasoned names in the esports arena, including Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, Tricked Esport founder Morten Jensen, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech. Their combined expertise and passion for esports are expected to drive the group toward their visionary goals.
Finding a New Home
Team Singularity has a storied history in the UK/Nordics League of Legends NLC and was part of the old ESL UK Premiership, having been around since the early days of the UK LoL scene in 2017. The team teased an announcement set for August 1st, 2024, fueling anticipation about their future moves under the new ownership of Legendary Gaming Group.
This acquisition follows Stehouwer's statement about finding a proper home for the team. Reflecting on the transition, he said, “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.”
Meanwhile, Tricked Esport, another name associated with the group, had closed down last year, marking a significant shift in the esports landscape in the region.
From Football to Esports
Bendtner's fascination with esports started during the COVID-19 pandemic when he began playing CSGO. This interest led him to own a small CSGO team, Prosapia Esport, before eventually participating in a showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals at Copenhagen's Royal Arena in November 2022, where he played on Team Denmark.
His journey from the soccer field to the digital arena is indeed an interesting one. Reflecting on this transition and his new role, Bendtner said, “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. 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.”
The Lord's Title
Bendtner, who had a well-documented relationship with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff of Danish royalty and had been whimsically bestowed the title of “Lord” by a Danish tabloid in March 2015, carries his unique charisma into the esports industry. Famously, he holds the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in Premier League history—a title he achieved when he netted a goal just 1.8 seconds after the ball was kicked into play against Tottenham on December 22nd, 2007.
As esports continues to grow rapidly, the blend of Bendtner’s sports heritage and entrepreneurial spirit may well carve out a new path for emerging talents and teams under his stewardship. His ambitions are clear, and his team is poised to make their mark in the exciting and ever-evolving world of esports.
Future Prospects
With Legendary Gaming Group's diverse investments and a strong leadership team in place, the future looks promising for Team Singularity and the wider initiatives under Bendtner's watch. The upcoming announcement slated for August 1st, 2024, is eagerly anticipated by fans and industry observers alike, marking a new chapter in the storied career of 'Lord' Bendtner—now in the realm of esports.