Former German national soccer star Thomas Hitzlsperger says he is gay

Thomas Hitzlsperger, who played in the English Premier League and for the German national team before retiring four months ago, told a German newspaper Wednesday he is gay and wants to speak out in an effort to break down the stigma of homosexuality in sports.

Hitzlsperger’s revelation in Die Zeit comes 11 months after another former British professional player, American Robbie Rogers, came out as gay in an emotional blog post. Rogers later unretired and last May became the first openly gay player to participate in a major U.S. professional league when he joined the Galaxy.

The 31-year-old Hitzlsperger, a midfielder, said he came out because he felt the subject of gays in sports was “simply ignored” and he “want[ed] to promote the discussion of homosexuality among professional athletes.”

Hitzlsperger, who represented Germany on the 2006 World Cup team coached by current U.S. Manager Juergen Klinsmann, said it was important to challenge the stereotype that “gays are sissies.”

“I was never ashamed of how I am,” said Hitzlsperger, who had 52 caps for Germany between 2004-10 and also played for clubs in England, Italy and Germany before persistent injuries ended his career this fall at Everton of the Premier League.

Just as Rogers received overwhemingly public support from the U.S. soccer community when he came out last year, Hitzlsperger was lauded Wednesday in Germany.

“Brave and right decision. Respect, Thomas Hitzlsperger. His outing is an important sign in our time,” German national team star Lukas Podolski tweeted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle -- who is openly gay -- and Theo Zwanzinger, president of the national soccer federation, also rallied to Hitzlsperger’s side.

“We live in a country where nobody should be afraid of acknowledging their sexuality for fear of intolerance,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert, speaking on behalf of Merkel, said. “And I think that as a country, as a society, we’ve made enormous progress in this area.”

Justin Fashanu, who played for a variety of British professional teams between 1978 and 1997, was the first European player to come out as a gay. He later committed suicide and in a note he left behind he said intolerance of his homosexuality played a role in his decision to take his own life.

It was another 13 years before another European professional, Liverpool-born Swedish defender Anton Hysen, came out. Hysen was among those who congratulated Hitzlperger on Wednesday.

“GOOD JOB Thomas Hitzlsperger!!,” Hysen, who plays for a third-division team in Sweden, tweeted. “very proud over what youve done, Extremely good for football!”

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