‘The Hammer’ played in the World Cup, came out as gay, and still fights for visibility in soccer
As a World Cup player, CEO and now a TV pundit, Thomas Hitzlsperger's influence ensures his place on the Outsports Soccer Power 26 list. He tells us why being an out gay man in the sport matters.
Mark
Being on a “Soccer Power” list suits Thomas Hitzlsperger, whose nickname “The Hammer” refers to his potent left foot.
In a pro career that saw him feature for Germany at the 2006 World Cup, win the Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart and make more than 100 Premier League appearances in England, the midfielder became a fan favorite for his high-energy style and spectacular ability to score from long range.
Hitzlsperger was only 31 when he announced his playing days were over, saying he needed “something else in his life.” Four months later, he told the world he is gay, and the impact of that moment is still resonating today.
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Meet the Outsports Soccer Power 26: Out LGBTQ people making a difference in men’s soccer
With the men’s World Cup starting today, Outsports is pleased to announce our Soccer Power 26, highlighting 26 of the most influential out LGBTQ people in men’s soccer. This list includes players and coaches, referees, leaders of fan groups, media members and executives. Our goal is to highlight out people in men’s soccer at all […]
“From time to time, people stop me and say, ‘it’s great what you’ve done’ or ‘thank you very much’,” he tells Outsports.
“Sometimes, it’s ‘you helped my brother’ or somebody else in their family, and I immediately know what they’re talking about. They’re the sort of moments that really are wonderful and incredible.
“I don’t see myself as this all the time, but I feel like I have to remind myself more often of the change we can all make when we talk about representation.
“That’s why it frustrates me when people criticize the LGBTQ community, that they speak ‘so loud’ and ‘so often’ — I’m just trying to explain why visibility is so important.”
The fact that Hitzlsperger is one of just two men who have ever played in a World Cup and later come out (France’s Olivier Rouyer is the other) is one reason why he’s proud to be on the Outsports Soccer 26 list.
He will be at the tournament working as a TV pundit for Germany’s ARD and other broadcasters, having already traveled around the three host nations in recent months making a documentary.
It’s given him greater insight into a World Cup beset by political complexities, to the extent he has called out FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s “shameful” behavior. It’s because he loves soccer so much that he feels more needs to be said and done.
“I’m still passionate about the game,” he explains. “It’s become so big that there are so many issues being discussed. The LGBTQ community is just one of them, but it’s the one where I’m most authentic.
“I’m nervous at times because I know we criticized Qatar a lot four years ago, and now we’re going into the U.S. thinking, according to the U.S. President, that some of the host cities are ‘too woke,’ that they shouldn’t host games.
“That’s pretty ridiculous when you look at it.”
Why Thomas Hitzlsperger missed out on a second World Cup
If you’re a LinkedIn user, you may already follow Hitzlsperger on the networking platform or have seen one of his video posts in the last six months.
He’s been working with a social team to produce conversational content, sharing insights from his career, including his spell as CEO at Stuttgart.
“I’ve worked in football in so many different capacities,” he says. “We all have a view on leadership, and I think what I’ve done equips me to talk about it and pass on my experience and things I’ve learned over the years. Hopefully, people are watching!”
He co-owns a London restaurant as well, making him the sort of entrepreneur who current and former players will aspire to emulate.
They’re definitely a target audience, and Hitzlsperger would like them to think about how they use their voices. “I would argue the most power you have is as a player. Players are the most visible, the most sought after.”
For a post in February, he talked about wanting to bust the myth that you can’t be an out gay man playing elite soccer. It was a myth he once believed, and which contributed to him missing out on playing at a second World Cup.
The 2006 tournament in Germany had been magical. “We had a reunion of the squad recently. We spoke about what we achieved and the way Germany was perceived — everybody raising the flag, a team that people wanted to be identified with.
“I was disappointed to have only played in the last game against Portugal [the third-place playoff]. But the season after, in club football, was my most successful.”
Following Stuttgart’s title win, Hitzlsperger became an integral part of Jogi Löw’s Germany team that finished as runners-up at the 2008 European Championships and then went undefeated in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
However, he was then left out of the squad for the tournament in South Africa. “The last six months before the announcement, I had a rather difficult time at Lazio in Rome, and the manager didn’t nominate me.
“That was a huge disappointment, but that was also the period when I was struggling with myself a lot, and I knew I had to admit to myself that I’m gay.
“So much stuff was going on in my head, and I couldn’t perform at the highest level consistently. So it was probably the right decision.”
Pride events led Thomas Hitzlsperger towards coming out as gay
Hitzlsperger is realistic about why gay and bi players don’t come out publicly while active in the men’s pro game, but says stories like those of Jakub Jankto and Robbie Rogers show there is “a way out” for anyone struggling.
He also points to more recent examples of courage, such as St Pauli’s U19 coach Christian Dobrick coming out. For the most part, he feels men’s soccer is more welcoming than it used to be, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that out gay players would be embraced by their teammates and the fans.
He explored these themes within his autobiography “Tests of Courage,” published in Germany in 2024, and says coming out is much more about the internal battle and working on yourself so that you become comfortable in your own skin.
“I always say, don’t feel like you have to be a victim. Be confident, because there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“That’s what I had to learn, to be almost extremely confident. I don’t have to apologize to anybody, and that’s what people need, a lot of courage.
“Don’t wait for the world to be ready for you, because it’s never going to be perfect. Just walk in your own confidence.”
He developed much of his own self-assurance from attending Pride events and says this time of year is special for him personally.
“I go back 10, 15 years when I needed support and the community. I remember going to Pride predominantly in the U.S. and seeing so many people who support you when you need them.
“Pride is still relevant, and I’m glad it does exist, even though some other people criticize it and even spread their hate on it.”
He says he will try to attend the “Pride Match” in Seattle on June 26 — “it has a big meaning, a big significance” — but with a hectic World Cup schedule, that might not be possible.
What is certain is that Thomas Hitzlsperger will continue to speak with purpose and use his influence for good. “The Hammer” has always been synonymous with impact, after all.
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