Former Everton and Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has publicly announced that he is gay. Hitzlsperger, capped over 50 times by Germany, made the revelation in Die Zeit. Hitzlsperger retired from football in September last year.
The 31 year old is the most prominent footballer to profess his homosexuality. Others to have done so in recent years are former Leeds winger Robbie Rogers and Swedish player Anton Hysen.
Hitzlsperger said that he had only realised his preference in the last few years and would “prefer to live together with another man”.