you have updates. In any case, he says, an ultimately fruitless battle to regain full fitness after a series of operations was more important to him than telling his colleagues about his sexual orientation. Where I come from, in rural Bavaria, homosexuality is considered 'un-normal'. London/England - Thomas Hitzlsperger boasts a wealth of experience few in football are able to match. the former Germany international asks with playful indignation. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. I think you can't separate those two things.". This does make you wonder who Tomasz’s partner might be, and what might his net worth/salary be right? "That's the audience I always thought the film was made for. Known as "the Hammer" among supporters because of his fierce shot with his left foot, Hitzlsperger always enjoyed a robust challenge. "Thomas Hitzlsperger hat einen klaren Werte- und Erfahrungskanon." 'Mario' is available to watch now on Sky Cinema Premiere. He is contracted to Minnesota for the 2019 MLS season but says he would like to one day transfer across the Atlantic: "I've always really wanted to play in Europe. Web Development by Bethany Stanley. I've had nothing but total support from them.". You have to listen to your own voice.". There will always be a small minority who think otherwise but hopefully, their numbers become fewer and fewer over the next years". Thomas Hitzlsperger has described his experience of coming out as gay and the positive impact doing so had on his life in an exclusive interview for the Official Everton Podcast.. (Süddeutsche Zeitung) offener Brief. He has always considered himself a good example of a shattered stereotype. He was recently appointed academy director at VfB Stuttgart, having been a board member of the Bundesliga club for over a year. "It's good to know, not just for me but for others who are still playing now, that those at the top have no problem, that they support you. "They all said 'don't do it, a big wave will crash on you'," he says. He is also the first former Premier League footballer to do so. "Kevin Love talking about his mental health and talking about certain depressive tendencies that he's had... him speaking out about that has greatly helped his performance on the court but also helped him as a person to grow. It won't be easy for the next person to be the truly the first in that regard but maybe I've been able to help them a tiny bit.". "A lot of the reasons why I did come out was to tell people I've been supported, to [tell] people that think it's not important out there. "Corny Littmann was the former president of St Pauli, and openly gay," says Gisler. "Most of them thought it would not work out. It's why a football team is such a good place to hide.". "They all said it was good for them." That's something that should change. I knew that there would be negative reactions from those who will never understand it, also towards my family, but that didn't bother them. He became renowned for his powerful shot, leading to Villa supporters nicknaming him Der Hammer, and there were often cries of ‘shoot’ from the Holte End whenever he was on the ball with the opposition goal in sight. Thomas Hitzlsperger had managed to stay away from his computer for a long time. I feel sorry for them, really". Last October, the Swiss feature 'Mario' was released in Germany, sparking more discussions in the country around the difficulties surrounding this issue in the sport. The film is newly released on Sky Cinema Premiere on Wednesday. Hitzlsperger's own aggression appeared to be channelled primarily through his remarkable left foot - 'The Hammer' became a fans' favourite at Villa, Goodison and Upton Parks through his long-range shooting prowess. Let's check out Thomas Hitzlsperger Dating, Marriage & Relationship Records below: Thomas Hitzlsperger Relationship Records. ", There was the odd incidence of crass homophobia, as well, "but that was just your general, non-specific football talk," says Hitzlsperger. Dezember 2020 beim Vereinsbeirat meine Kandidatur für das Amt des Präsidenten des VfB Stuttgart 1893 e.V. The decision to address this issue publicly was a "hard, difficult one" that took a number of years to gestate, he tells me. display . "I don't think anyone has ever come away from watching a game with me thinking there's something wrong or 'too soft' with my game," he told The Guardian after coming out. "He's a Villa supporter, after all!" I'm curious to see what will happen. MX23RW : Saturday, November 28 09:35:39 S I sincerely hope that we'll see the when nobody mentions courage in these circumstances anymore, because it will be seen as totally normal that a sports person will speak about his homosexuality, the way others talk about their wives and girlfriends. "The problem is that people have counsellors and consultants around them who advise against it [coming out] - and I've had the experience too," he explains. "I'm rather a pessimist, and I think a real-life 'Mario' would not go to see the film, because he's too much afraid that someone would guess he has something to do with it. Das Coming-Out von Fußball-Nationalspieler Thomas Hitzlsperger bewegt ganz Deutschland - und eine Person wohl besonders: Inga Totzauer. Hitzlsperger, 36, began his career … Thomas Hitzlsperger is regarded very highly among our employees, at board level and among our members, fans, partners and sponsors.” Thomas Hitzlsperger, soon-to-be VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG chairman: “I’m very happy that the supervisory board has handed me the role of chairman and I’d like to thank them for the trust they have placed in me. They all talked about the former Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton midfielder's "courage" in breaking one of sport's last great taboos: Hitzlsperger, capped 52 times by his country, is the first German footballer to reveal he is gay. Thomas Hitzlsperger extends Everton stay:Headline: Thomas Hitzlsperger extends Everton stay: Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger extends his stay with the club until the end of the season. Thomas Hitzlsperger: Recap of reaction as first former Premier League footballer comes out as gay The former Germany international has decided he … There was no precedent, so everybody could only speculate on what would happen.". Posted on 9th January 2014. "But the important thing for me is to show that being homosexual and professional football player is something that is normal. I began to think that I could help other footballers who might be in the same shoes, so that they could see that here's someone who was even an international. By Jack Prescott, Rugby Editor | 7y. Sky Sports is a member of TeamPride and supports Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign. Ex-premiership footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger says there is “a long way to go” before there will be an openly gay man playing in top league football. Unknown : Facts & Trivia. In a new interview with ARD Radio Recherche Sport, Hitzlsperger says he is encouraged by the progress football is making on LGBT inclusion, and believes supporters are not to blame for the decisions of gay or bisexual male players to avoid the topic. ", It's a line of reasoning that's been echoed by other professional male athletes who are gay when they have come out, such as Jason Collins in Sports Illustrated in 2013 reflecting on his aggressive playing style in the NBA as evidence of how he "worked hard at acting straight", and former Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots tackle Ryan O'Callaghan telling Outsports in 2017 that he used the NFL as a shield to protect himself: "No one is going to assume the big football player is gay. Thomas Hitzlsperger says now is 'a good time' to reveal true sexuality 31-year-old ended playing career in September due to persistent injuries German midfielder played … Updated: 30th May 2018, 5:21 am. "It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "I too, used derogatory terms like 'what a gay pass' without thinking about it when I was younger.". As players have to be strong characters anyway in order to succeed in the sport, the former Germany midfielder - who won 52 international caps - says positive thinking would be more helpful to a player who is considering whether or not to come out. The decision to address this issue publicly was a … Homosexuality was rarely a big topic in any of the dressing rooms he encountered, he says, and "the subject only came up when people were speculating about someone else's sexuality, but never in their presence. He is a diversity ambassador for the German Football Association (DFB) and has encouraged players to engage on social issues in general. It is a similar situation as that which occurred when Thomas Hitzlsperger came out in January. Let’s get to know is Tomasz Schafernakeris is gay, or he is married or if he has a boyfriend. Hitzlsperger Praises Daley, Amaechi, Thomas and Rodgers: ‘It’s about Visibility’ – Gay ex-footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger confirmed the need for visible LGBT role models in his ‘coming out’ interview with the Guardian newspaper. "With insults and abuse, every player must be able to handle some of that," he adds. Amid such little visibility, it has tended to fall on TV and film drama to address the under-representation of out gay footballers. Hitzlsperger, who was engaged to his childhood sweetheart and broke up with her shortly before the scheduled wedding six years ago, was not certain of his sexual orientation until his career was almost over. Hitzlsperger is bearing witness to the change. Luke Nicoli 12th August 2010, 2:05 pm. The perceived contradiction between playing football, the man's game, and being homosexual is nonsense. That can, of course, lead to getting more red cards. 579 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ‘hitzlsperger’ hashtag Hitzlsperger says: "You'll always have those guys, but it's sad that they don't think a little deeper about what they're saying. Thomas Hitzlsperger caused a stir with an open letter. One gay player who recently put aside any such fears was Minnesota United midfielder Collin Martin, who came out publicly on his social media accounts last June. 1. Former Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger has become the first Barclays Premier League player to announce that he is gay. For those like him in the professional game who are gay or bi and who want to come out, Hitzlsperger's advice is to not be readily dissuaded by others. Former Aston Villa player and out footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger has spoken about the “intense” first few days after he came out as gay in the spotlight. "Today, we see that more guys are talking about stuff that affects their personal life, and that can creep into their professional life.". Thomas Hitzlsperger in his Everton days. Hitzlsperger is unwilling to make wide-scale recommendations – "everyone has to decide for themselves" – and is unwilling to predict when the first active footballer in a European top league will follow his lead. "Football fans are much more enlightened and open-minded now. The movie's central characters, Mario and Leon, are team-mates in the U21 team at Young Boys Berne and unexpectedly fall in love, a relationship they attempt to keep secret due to the attitudes of others in and around the club. "I'm fine with the fact that my story will be mentioned in relation to the Games, because the situation in Russia is something that needs to be talked about. Thomas Hitzlsperger has extended his contract with Everton until the end of the season. Still, the emphatically positive response by politicians, footballers and fans have left him in an optimistic mood and at ease with himself. Hitzlsperger, who has addressed issues such as racism and antisemitism in German football before, is acutely aware that there is a political dimension to his move, with the Olympic Games in Sochi about to begin. Maybe Corny was being a little bit sarcastic, but there is some truth in it, I think. Born on April 5th, 1982 in Munich, Germany. As the tone of that discussion becomes ever more supportive, the more likely it is that another player - active or retired - who can relate to Hitzlsperger, Rogers and Martin will hear their inner voice, and be empowered to speak their truth. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA. On the day of his interview with the Guardian, the Paris St-Germain defender Alex, a former Chelsea player, insisted that "god created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Yves". “I think it first started when I first signed, John Gregory knew I had a powerful left foot and in one of his first in… One of the most asked questions about Tomasz is his height, so that we will be getting into that too. Five years on and I couldn’t be happier. Five years after coming out, Hitzlsperger heartened by football's discussions on LGBT inclusion; underlying message of 'Mario' movie, now on Sky Cinema, and experience of out MLS player Collin Martin also offer encouragement. While Germany as a country has noticeably become more and more relaxed about homosexuality in recent years, he had also noted there was an unhelpful media obsession with finding the first gay footballer. Former Premier League star Thomas Hitzlsperger says footballers who are gay should "listen to their own voice" if they are being discouraged from coming out by other people's opinions. See Thomas Hitzlsperger's bio, transfer history and stats here. Aston Villa favourite Thomas Hitzlsperger has been appointed as sporting director of German club Stuttgart. I don't think anyone has ever come away from watching a game with me thinking there's something wrong or 'too soft' with my game," he adds, with a chuckle. Wed 8 Jan 2014 17.09 EST Thomas Hitzlsperger asks gay footballers keen to come out to 'listen to their own voice' Five years after coming out, Hitzlsperger heartened by … "Then, they'd hope that nobody would have the idea that they could be gay. Thank you all for the support! News about Thomas Hitzlsperger on Sports Mole with the latest player news, biographical information, pictures and more. The 24-year-old remains the only currently active out player at an elite level in the men's professional game worldwide, and the second in Major League Soccer history after former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers. Thomas Hitzlsperger had managed to stay away from his computer for a long time. Former Aston Villa, West Ham and Germany international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has announced he is gay in a bid to break the taboo of homosexuality in sport. Hitzlsperger is under no illusion that football's attitudes will change overnight. Contact chairs@schools-out.org.uk. The 31-year-old, who retired from the game last year because of injuries, first told his friends and family. Hitzlsperger’s goal against Birmingham was one of several he scored from long range for the club. 00:26 Goal of the day: Hitzlsperger's derby stunner 15/9/2019 CC AD; 02:31 Aston Villa's best Premier League goals 02/6/2019 CC AD; 00:35 Goal of the day: Hitzlsperger the hero for Villa 15/3/2019 CC AD; More Videos: Latest Player Videos "But where's David Cameron?" Gay rights activist has special praise for the Sun newspaper's anti-homophobic leader column about the retired Aston Villa player who outed himself, Robbie Rogers: It will have taken courage to come out, but Hitzlsperger has helped the next generation of sportsmen take that difficult step, Former German international Thomas Hitzlsperger says the time is right for him to come out as gay, World leaders including Angela Merkel and David Cameron were quick to offer their support to Thomas Hitzlsperger after his announcement, Available for everyone, funded by readers. Thomas Hitzlsperger asks gay footballers keen to come out to 'listen to their own voice', Thomas Hitzlsperger played professionally in England from 2001 to 2013, and came out publicly as gay in 2014, Hitzlsperger took on the role of Ambassador for Diversity at the DFB in May 2017, Marcel Gisler (centre), the director of 'Mario', with the movie's two leads Aaron Altaras and Max Hubacher, The short film 'Making Mario' takes you behind the scenes of the movie 'Mario', which is now available to watch on Sky Cinema, Collin Martin posted coming out messages on his Twitter and Instagram accounts during Pride month in the USA in 2018, Robbie Rogers (second from right) returned to the game with Los Angeles Galaxy in 2013 after leaving England, and was an MLS Cup winner the following year, Hitzlsperger's fierce left-foot shot earned him the nickname of 'The Hammer' and the admiration of fans, In Hitzlsperger's original coming out interview in, Minnesota United midfielder Collin Martin, who came out publicly, He cites the example set by five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers, We would like your feedback, please fill in our survey. Favorite Actor: Gene Kelly; Favorite Actress: Carey Mulligan; Favorite Books: … The announcement of his retirement last September brought more time to think, however. It was a moment he always knew would come, and one he dreaded. As for the English pro men's game, where do we go from here? 14 minutes ago, gccrowdpleaser said: There was every interesting narrative from Mel at the time about investment in a retractable roof and pitch covering that was being developed to allow 100 events a year to be staged at PP which would increase turn … "I totally believe that your personal life affects your professional life," says Martin. The former international, who played in the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Championship, maintains that he did not have to lie about his sexuality and that team-mates eventually stopped asking about his lack of a girlfriend. When I speak to him I tell him that support has been flooding in from fans, fellow footballers, well-wishers – and yes, even Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband. He cites the example set by five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who wrote for The Players' Tribune in March 2018 about how he had suffered a panic attack during a match the previous December, and that there was a history of depression in his family. I wanted to encourage them, the way that those guys and Robbie Rogers encouraged me.". Carlton Cole believes that Thomas Hitzlsperger will be a vital asset in West Ham's bid for survival. "He told me that sometimes, in order to try and prove he is 'a real man', a gay player may tend to play more aggressively. In the morning he had become the highest-profile footballer to announce he is gay, and in the hours afterwards he had not checked the public reaction. "I finally figured out that I preferred living with a man," he says. "Don't always play on people's fears and tell them the bad things that could happen - that's exactly the wrong signal to send out. First published on Wed 8 Jan 2014 17.09 EST. Who is the current partner of Thomas Hitzlsperger? The prime minister, as it turns out, would soon add his voice to a raft of high-profile well-wishers that included Angela Merkel, the German national team manager Joachim Löw, and the former German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, who is also gay. "I was surprised and happy that they were all totally OK with it. Love life: Hitzlsperger pictured with his former partner Inga Totzauer at home in Sutton Coldfield in March 2002 Arsenal's German forward Lukas … Even a young player, I think.". The writing in the internal power struggle at VfB Stuttgart was extremely sharp. With that being said, let’s start the article with his bio. Hitzlsperger set to miss start of the season. Profile page for football player Thomas Hitzlsperger (Midfielder). I'm sure that some athletes will make a stand". There will always be insults in everyday life, but players who contemplate coming out don't have so much to worry about from fans. He closely studied the fall-out of their coming outs, too, he says, and felt empowered. fristgerecht eingereicht. "It's important to face up to nations that discriminate against minorities, sexual or otherwise," he says. Everton take former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on trial. He had thought about coming out while still playing for Wolfsburg in 2011-12 but then listened to people who warned him of the negative consequences. It was a moment he always knew would come, and one he dreaded. Director Marcel Gisler, who was given permission to shoot scenes at both Young Boys and also St Pauli in Hamburg, hopes the drama will find an audience that isn't necessarily LGBT through exposure on the small screen, attracting viewers who did not catch it in cinemas. Thomas Hitzlsperger: 'I finally figured out that I preferred living with a man', Peter Tatchell: Thomas Hitzlsperger may have turned tide of homophobia, Thanks to Thomas Hitzlsperger, young gay athletes know they're not alone, Thomas Hitzlsperger announces he is gay: 'The time is right' – video, Thomas Hitzlsperger: World leaders and top sportsmen all show support, Thomas Hitzlsperger announces he is gay in newspaper interview, Thomas Hitzlsperger: 'Der Hammer' who was never afraid of a challenge. Contact us at Sky Sports if you'd like to share a story to help raise awareness around LGBT inclusion. "But in the end I realised that nobody knows. Liebe Mitglieder, liebe Fans des VfB, ich habe am 18. In a feature interview between the two men for this month's edition of Gay Times magazine, Martin describes to Rogers why he followed in his footsteps by being open about his sexuality - despite many claiming such an announcement is unnecessary in modern times. 1156352. But it's so difficult to reach them. Rogers walked away after a difficult spell with Leeds United, where injuries, as well as his own struggle with his sexuality, were a factor in his failure to make an impact. Publicly, everyone should speak encouraging words.". All rights reserved. Now the young CEO apologizes for his choice of words. In Hitzlsperger's original coming out interview in Zeit in January 2014, he discussed his intention to widen the inclusion conversation in men's football through his own visibility and voice. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone. Schools Out UK Registered Charity No. "I think the fans are definitely not the problem," says Hitzlsperger, who spent the majority of his professional career in England, making over 100 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton. Five years on from becoming the most high-profile openly gay man in the sport, the 36-year-old says life is "going very well". Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has warned his team mates the success of their season hangs in the balance. All sorts of well-intended but ultimately unhelpful interventions from heterosexual players – who either opined that gay players would benefit from coming out or cautioned against it – did not exactly fill him with confidence that this was indeed the right step. "You hear the word courage a lot," he says, when the talk returns to the reactions he has experienced so far. 00:26 Goal of the day: Hitzlsperger's derby stunner 15/9/2019 CC AD 02:31 Aston Villa's best Premier League goals 02/6/2019 CC AD 00:35 Goal of the day: Hitzlsperger the hero for Villa 15/3/2019 CC AD He soon bounced back, however, by winning the MLS Cup with Los Angeles Galaxy, where he always felt fully accepted by his friends in the dressing room. "I think there is a completely different level of conversation now," he said this week. Sie ist die Ex-Freundin des Profi-Kickers. "It's hugely important for the movie to reach football fans in general," says Gisler. "That's nice to hear, but it's part of the problem, of course. The fear is all in the mind.". #ComingOut . Through his own research for 'Mario', Gisler is familiar with the inner collision of emotions that a closeted gay player might experience, and how that could manifest itself. Perhaps Martin himself could be the man to help move things forward on these shores. Earlier this year, Thomas Hitzlsperger described his experience of coming out as gay and the positive impact doing so had on his life in an exclusive interview with the Official Everton Podcast.. I could go over in a second or third division and work my way in." A reassuringly humble attitude too, and when considered alongside the message of 'Mario' - the understanding that any footballer should be free to follow their dreams as well as their heart - there's a suggestion that the game's age-old barriers to inclusion are beginning to crumble. Hitzlsperger spoke of his sexuality publicly for the first time in a magazine interview in January 2014, a few months after his retirement as a player. Thomas Hitzlsperger had managed to stay away from his computer for a long time. When the chancellor comes out in your favour, you know that it's safe being homosexual in this country, that you won't be discriminated. In the power struggle of VfB Stuttgart, the chairman of the board Thomas Hitzlsperger apologized for his choice of words in his sharp criticism of President Claus Vogt. Thomas Hitzlsperger today became the first Premier League footballer to come out as gay after recently realising he 'preferred' men. Currently Dating With: Under Review: Previously Dated with: Not Known: Is Thomas Hitzlsperger married or Single?

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