Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterWhen Thomas Hitzlsperger grew up in Bavaria in the 1980s, football was everywhere and there was little discussion of sexuality.It was only after he had left his hometown and embarked on his career that he began to understand how his own sexuality fit into the world around him.Hitzlsperger moved to Aston Villa was an 18-year-old in 2000 and initially found that his experience of moving to England as a German was more about Second World War stereotypes, with his later reflections leading him to consider the tragic story of Justin Fashanu.Hitzlesperger on moving from Bavaria to VillaGrowing up in the small community of Forstinning in Bavaria, I wouldnt say homosexuality was abnormal, but in the 1980s, there was no exposure to it, he tells FourFourTwo. It wasnt something that was talked about and the topic was taboo, so it wasnt something that was on my mind back then.Im Thomas, the youngest child of Ludwig and Anneliese Hitzlsperger. I have five brothers and a sister. As you can imagine, ours was a very busy household, with nine family members and extended relations as well, but I wouldnt have had it any other way. I experienced a sense of community from early on. It was about family, farm life and good values. You may like The late Kevin Keegan exclusive, on the upsides and downsides of his spell in Germany Why Italian legend Gianluca Pagliuca fell in love with Aston Villa in the 1980s Scottish football club sporting director has had arguably the maddest career in history My parents were very supportive and it was a wonderful childhood growing up on the farm. Without the support of my family, I wouldnt have made it in football. My parents took me to training twice a week in the beginning, then more later on.The young Hitzlsperger soon got his big opportunity, with his determination to succeed fueled by the footballing culture within his own family.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.I started playing for Bayern Munich at the age of seven and the dream was immediately to become a professional footballer. When you work hard in life, the success will be there if you keep pushing. My father played football before he had to quit due to injury and my five older brothers all loved the game. They always had a ball at their feet and still remain passionate about football now.After coming home from training with the team, Id usually have at least one brother to kick the ball around with. As I moved into my teenage years, it was all about football there was nothing that stopped me or distracted my focus.The question of his sexuality would only emerge later. Back then, Bavaria was not the only place on Earth that was conservative, he adds. Only later, when it became apparent to me that I was gay, I thought OK, how do I deal with this, because people around me have just not been exposed to it? What to read next Troy Deeney on coming back from the brink Elton John: The Watford Years After his red card vs Argentina in 1998 David Beckham was the most hated man in England, but went on to have the greatest season of his life In 2000, as an 18-year-old, I left my family in Germany and moved to the UK. Id been released by Bayern Munich and wanted a new situation. I spent five years in Birmingham with Aston Villa, and homophobia wasnt something that crossed my mind there. It wasnt a debate I had with people and I didnt observe anything where I thought This is so terrible.Later, that started for me when I left Stuttgart in 2010 and was in Rome playing for Lazio. In my own life, it was so apparent I was gay that I started looking around and observing my environment. But at Aston Villa, it was more about the stereotype of being a German in England and the silly war rhetoric. Being confronted with stereotypes, that started the thinking process for me.A decade before I arrived in the UK, Justin Fashanu became the first professional footballer to come out. I was only eight years old at the time, so I didnt have any awareness of it back then, but later on in my life, I picked up the story. His tale was very tragic and one can only imagine the pain he had to go through it was awful that he felt he had to reveal he was gay, because he thought the media were about to out him. It all ended so tragically, with him taking his own life.Football v Homophobia is a year-round initiative tackling anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, building inclusive communities at all levels of the game around the world. For more info and support, visit footballvhomophobia.comTOPICSAston VillaPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromGrant Shub
