In February of last year, US footballer, Robbie Rogers announced that he was gay and then quit football. He has since returned to football in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
Former German international footballer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has followed on from that example in an interview with Zeit Online and also come out as gay.
Some snippets from the interview below via Alex Stone.
Hitzlsperger: "Struggle, passion & will to win inextricably linked in sport. This doesn't fit cliche people have that homosexuals are soft."
— Alex Stone (@AlexStone7) January 8, 2014
Hitzlsperger says homosexuality in football is 'simply ignored' & in England Germany & Italy, it's not treated seriously in changing room.
— Alex Stone (@AlexStone7) January 8, 2014
Hitzlsperger: Jokes not always easy to bear. Think about it. You've 20 men drinking round a table. As long as jokes weren't too offensive.
— Alex Stone (@AlexStone7) January 8, 2014
Hitzlsperger, who is just thirty-one, retired from football back in September having played for Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham, Wolfsburg and Everton.
He also amassed 52 caps for Germany over a six year period.
