Portrait
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Born
5 April 1982Munich, Germany
Footballer and football executiveGermany

Thomas Hitzlsperger

The former German international was the most prominent male footballer to come out as gay – in 2014, after his career.

Thomas Hitzlsperger grew up on a farm in Bavaria and played in the youth team of FC Bayern Munich. At 18 he moved to Aston Villa in England, where fans nicknamed him “Der Hammer” for his powerful left foot.

Back in Germany he won the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart in 2007. He played 52 times for the German national team, including at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008. After spells at Lazio Rome, West Ham, Wolfsburg and Everton, injuries forced him to retire in 2013.

In January 2014 he told the newspaper Die Zeit that he was gay. He was the most prominent male footballer in the world to come out at that time. He said he wanted to start a discussion about homosexuality in professional sport, where it was still a taboo. He received support from players, clubs and politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Hitzlsperger has since campaigned against homophobia and racism in football. From 2019 to 2022 he was head of sport and then chief executive of VfB Stuttgart, and in 2025 he joined the board of the Italian club Hellas Verona.

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