Former Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham star Thomas Hitzlsperger announces he is gay

Posted Thursday, January 09, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

FORMER Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has become the most high-profile footballer to announce he is gay.

Former Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham star Thomas Hitzlsperger announces he is gay
Fomer Premier League star Thomas Hitzlsperger has announced he is gay

Hitzlsperger, who retired from the game in September last year due to a knee injury after a short spell with Everton, revealed in an interview with TIME magazine that the awareness of being gay was "a long and difficult process".

The ex-German national captain admits he has "never been ashamed" of his sexuality and claims he wants to move forward the discussion of homosexuality in the sport.

"It is only in the last few years I have realised I would rather live with a man," Hitzlsperger said.

"Homosexuality isn't a serious topic for discussion in England, Germany or Italy - at least not in the dressing room."

He added: "I am talking about being gay because I want to move forward the discussion about homosexuality among professional sports stars."

In February 2013 ex-Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers, now playing in the MLS with LA Galaxy, initially retired from the game after announcing he was gay.

Justin Fashanu was the first professional footballer in Britain to reveal he was gay in 1990 - he committed suicide eight years later aged only 37.

The son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, Anton, a Swedish lower league player, admitted his homosexuality to a Swedish football magazine in 2011.

Hitzlsperger, 31, is only the fourth footballer to publicly announce he is gay.

He added: "I've never been ashamed of the way I am.

"Just picture 20 men sat around a table together drinking - you've just got to let the majority be, just as long as the jokes are halfway funny and the talk about homosexuality doesn't get too insulting."