The European League of Football Gladiators from the Costa Daurada in Spain have announced the signing of one of the most versatile players in Europe, defensive back/wide receiver Niko Lester.
They have also tagged him as the team’s Franchise Player.
Lester was a key element in Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders championship season in 2020 despite arriving late. He had a crucial interception in the semifinal win over the Orebro Black Knights before scoring the opening touchdown in Carlstad’s title win over the Stockholm Mean Machines.
The 29 year old, 6’2″, 210 pound native of Kaiserslauten, Germany finished a season with the Triangle Razorbacks in Denmark that ended early, just as the playoffs were about to start, due to the pandemic.
For all of this he was a unanimous choice for the AFI All-Pandemic Team.
Lester had spent the previous three years with the Razorbacks, helping them win the 2019 Danish title while also finding time to play for the Spanish champions, the Badalona Dracs earlier in 2020, during a season which was also cut short.
A member of the German national team he has also suited up for the New Yorker Lions (2013 German champions) and Cologne Falcons both in the German Football League, Finland’s Hämeenlinna Huskies and Seinäjoki Crocodiles (Team MVP), the Horsens Stallions from Denmark as well as the Badalona Dracs not to mention a stint with the Bloomington Edge of the Champions Indoor Football League.
Jesús Sánchez, Football Operations Manager of Gladiators Football:
“We are very happy with his signing and to name him ‘Franchise Player’, because we see in him the right profile to represent the values of the Gladiators Football. In addition, we would like to be able to count on him for several seasons. Niko is a very serious person and a great leader. We believe that he can command and pull the team. He has a lot of experience playing high-level competition and has been nominated for MVP several times. He is a tremendous athlete, has an incredible physical shape and is a very versatile player who can play both sides of the ball; defense, attack and on special teams. He is looking forward to joining our franchise and is very happy that the signing has been completed”.