Former Premier League footballer and German international made the announcement in Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper on Wednesday to Raphael Honigstein about how he wanted to tell the world he was gay while he was still playing in Germany for Wolfsburg, but was advised agaad moreinst it.

He said: “I’m coming out about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards.”

“I’ve never been ashamed of the way I am,” he added.

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