Thomas Hitzlsperger who
once to played for Aston Villa has come out of the closet, revealing that he’s
gay. The 31 year old ex-footballer who retired in 2003 as a result of a knee
injury opened up in an interview with a German newspaper, saying:
"I'm coming out
about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about
homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards. In England, Italy &
Germany being a homosexual is no big thing, at least not in the dressing
room"
"The awareness of
being gay was a long and difficult process. Only in recent years has it dawned
on me that I would prefer to live with another man. I've never been ashamed of
my sexuality"