Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has announced his retirement at 33, with the former Denmark international revealing he has plans to move into coaching.
Having joined the Gunners from FC Copenhagen's youth team in 2004, Bendtner was on Arsenal's books until as late as 2014 while he also turned out for sides as varied as Juventus, Sunderland, Wolfsburg and Rosenberg.
A technically gifted target man with unshakable confidence, Bendtner enjoyed career highlights that include scoring a winner in a north London derby, a Champions League hat-trick and goals at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships. He also netted this peach.
But Bendtner most memorable moments aren't really related to his ability at all. Oh no, they weren't...
1. Pizzagate
When visiting his native Copenhagen in 2011, a drunk Bendtner stumbled into a pizza shop after a night on the town and caused quite the scene. All the striker wanted was a single slice to soak up the large volumes of alcohol he'd clearly consumed but after his credit card was declined, the forward launched an angry tirade at the shop's staff.
He shouted "Don't you know who I am? I can buy the whole pizzeria!" It's said that an onlooker paid for Bendtner's slice, saving him from making an even bigger idiot of himself.
2. Bendtner's lucky pants
One of the Dane's standout performances at international level came in Euro 2012 when he scored two headed goals during a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Portugal.
But as Bendtner usually does, the striker found a way of turning the spotlight away from his impressive display and onto something highly controversial. Having netted his second on the night, he wheeled away in celebration dropping his shorts to reveal a sponsored pair of underwear.
He would have certainly been paid handsomely by the well-known betting company but was immediately served a hefty fine and a one-match ban.
3. Driving on the wrong side of the road
Bendtner was arrested for drink driving in March 2013 for drink driving through Copenhagen. The player was on loan at Juventus from Arsenal at the time and subsequently fined £97,000 as well as being banned from getting behind the wheel for three years.
Local police alleged the footballer was driving on the wrong side of the road at high speeds while being three times over the legal limit.
4. Taxi for Bendtner
In 2014 Bendtner was accused of opening his trousers and rubbing himself along the outside of a taxi among other things. Yep, you've guessed it - this incident occurred in Copenhagen. If residents of the city didn't know him already, he's certainly left his mark on the Danish capital with each visit.
According to the driver's account of events, he shouted expletives at him and threatened to sexually abuse him before assaulting the vehicle with his belt.
5. Bendtner uncovered
The now-retired footballer fancies himself as a bit of a model, you only need to take a glance at his Instagram page to work that out.
Back in 2014, he posted the above photograph on social media and while it's since been removed from his Instagram profile, it's still floating about on the internet.
At the time, Bendtner was looking for a new club - who knows, maybe this photo was what attracted Wolfsburg to the striker.
6. Lord Bendtner
The former FC Copenhagen star regularly posts pictures with his son and the boy's mother is Danish aristocracy - hence why many refer to him as 'Lord Bendnter'.The striker later broke up with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff who at the time was said to be worth more than £400m. While the player remained tight-lipped regarding the split, friends of the couple claim the pressures of parenthood saw their romance come to an end.
7. Bendtner the elite
While Bendtner didn't break any laws this time, you could make the case this was the most outrageous entry of them all. Back in 2010, he claimed he was one of the best strikers in the world and those comments were used to hypothetically beat him with throughout his career.
He told the media: "If you ask me if I am one of the best strikers in the world, I say yes because I believe it."
When asked about the comments later on in his career while at Nottingham Forest, Bendtner said: “I actually don’t regret saying I want to be the best striker in the world, because that’s what everyone wants. It’s just that no one wants to say it.”
10/10 for confidence, you have to give him that!
Source : 90min