Former German international footballer, Thomas Hitzlesperger, who retired last year, has decided the time has come to announce to the world that he is gay. The revelation makes him the highest-profile footballer to "come out."

The former Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton midfielder said in an interview with a German paper, that it had been a "long and difficult process" but that he wants to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional athletes forward. His announcement follows that of the American LA Galaxy player Robbie Rogers, who revealed his homosexuality last year.