Thomas Hitzlsperger has become the most high-profile footballer to come out, announcing on Wednesday that he is gay. The former Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham player has given a long interview to the German paper Die Zeit, in which he says that he is talking about his sexuality because he wants to "take the discussion around professional athletes and homosexuality forward". Hitzlsperger represented Germany 52 times, played in a World Cup and a European Championship and won the German league with Stuttgart. He retired in September last year, having also played for Lazio in Italy and Wolfsburg. "In England, Italy and Germany being a homosexual is no big thing, at least not in the dressing room," he said, before adding: "I have never been ashamed for the fact that I am like I am." Last year, the former Leeds United player Robbie Rogers came out, telling the world about his sexuality in a statement on his website. Last month the British diver Tom Daley also announced that he is gay. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/08/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-announces-homosexual