Former Bundesliga Football Star Wins Danish Lotto Jackpot

A former footballer was left celebrating more than just a goal after landing a DKK5 million (£588,000) Danish lottery jackpot. Ex-Bundesliga star Tommy Bechmann correctly matched the numbers 3, 5, 13, 19, 22, 31 and 34 to become one of four players to scoop the top prize on Saturday 28th October. 

Danish Lottery Delight

Despite playing the lottery in his native Denmark for some time, the former VfL Bochum and Freiburg striker had failed to hit the back of the net as far as the jackpot was concerned. However, all that changed when the player received an email from lottery operator Danske Spil whilst holidaying in Spain with his family. "I checked the sender's address and saw that it was the same one that had notified me when I had won 50 krone before,” Bechmann told Ekstrabladet.

The former professional, who was once VfL Bochum’s record signing, earned an average of £50,000-a-year during his time on the field, but still regularly played the lottery and even gave potential winners an insight into how he chooses his numbers: "I've been buying tickets for years, and have always used the same numbers - my children's birthdays.”  

The money will certainly come in handy for Bechmann, who called time on his 15-year career in January following a six-year stint at Danish SuperLiga side SønderjyskE Fodbold. Naturally, the Dane still needs time to mull over how he will spend his newfound wealth: "I don't yet know for sure what I will do with the money,” he said. However, the 35-year-old did suggest that his winter holidays would be a little longer from now on, much to his family’s delight.     

Football and the Lottery - A Perfect Match  

Of course, this isn’t the first time that the worlds of football and lottery games have come into contact with one another. In December 2012, an unnamed Premier League star walked away with a five-figure sum after correctly matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the UK Lotto.

A huge lottery win also came to the aid of Welsh club Newport County, when 2009 EuroMillions winner Les Scadding decided to invest in the non-league outfit. Splashing some of his £45.5 million fortune, the former mechanic oversaw the team’s rise up through the divisions, before eventually leaving Rodney Parade in 2015.