Buddy

Competing under the handle Buddy, Manuel Steiner is an 18-year-old support who has started to make a name for himself on the European grassroots scene with Austrian Force. Listed as being of South Korean heritage, he is at the stage of his career where a professional League of Legends path is either just getting underway or building the momentum that will shape what comes next.

The Support Role and Its Demands

Few positions in the game ask for as much thinking as support, and that shapes how Buddy has to prepare for each match. A support does not measure success by personal kills; the job is to make teammates better. That means placing wards to limit enemy movement, keeping the bot-lane carry alive through the vulnerable opening minutes of lane, and starting or cancelling team fights at the moment a skirmish tips one way or the other. The value shows up less in highlight-reel plays and more in the steady build-up of vision and tempo that the rest of the team depends on.

Team and Competitive Setting

Buddy plays for Austrian Force, a name that fits the crowded Central European scene where new talent often makes its first appearance. Regional and national leagues like these act as real testing grounds, offering the reps against live opponents that ranked solo queue can never fully reproduce. For a support, that matters a great deal, since communication and coordination only really improve inside a consistent roster that plays scheduled competitive series.

At 18, Buddy fits the profile of a prospect who is still early in the story. Support play rewards patience and game sense that grow with experience, so his strongest seasons may still be ahead. Whether he moves up to a bigger regional league or takes on a leading role on a developing squad, the habits he forms now, including shot-calling, map awareness, and disciplined lane support, will help determine where a career that is just beginning ends up.

Looking Ahead

For anyone keeping an eye on rising European players, Buddy is worth following. Youth counts for a lot in a game that rewards quick reactions and adaptability, and the support role gives him a clear route toward becoming the tactical anchor of a competitive team. If he keeps sharpening his read of the game, Austrian Force could turn out to be the starting point for a much wider professional journey.