During Thomas Hitzlsperger’s childhood in 1980s Bavaria, soccer dominated daily life while conversations surrounding sexual orientation were virtually nonexistent.
He only started to comprehend his own identity and its place in society after relocating from his birthplace to pursue his professional path.
Arriving at Aston Villa as an 18-year-old in 2000, Hitzlsperger’s initial challenges of settling in England as a German centered around World War II tropes, though his subsequent thoughts eventually turned to the heartbreaking narrative of Justin Fashanu.
Hitzlsperger discusses relocating to Villa from Bavaria
“In the small Bavarian village of Forstinning where I was raised, being gay wasn’t necessarily viewed as deviant, but during the 1980s, we simply had zero visibility of it,” he shares with FourFourTwo. “The subject was never discussed and remained highly taboo, meaning it never really entered my thoughts at the time.
“I am Thomas, the baby of the family born to Ludwig and Anneliese Hitzlsperger. I grew up alongside five brothers and one sister. Naturally, our home was incredibly hectic, hosting nine immediate family members plus other relatives, yet I loved every minute of it. From my earliest days, I felt a deep bond of community. Our life centered around family, agricultural work, and strong principles.
“My mother and father provided immense backing, making my upbringing on our farm truly fantastic. I never would have succeeded in my soccer career without my family’s encouragement. Initially, my parents drove me to practices two times a week, increasing the frequency as I progressed.”
An outstanding prospect arrived quickly for the youthful Hitzlsperger, whose drive to triumph was powered by his family’s deep-rooted passion for the sport.
“My journey with Bayern Munich began when I was seven, and from that moment, my sole aspiration was to play professionally. If you dedicate yourself and put in the effort, achievement follows persistent striving. My dad used to play until an injury forced him out, and all five of my older brothers were obsessed with the sport. They constantly played with a ball and their devotion to the game is just as strong today.
“Upon returning from team practices, there was almost always a brother ready to practice drills with me. Throughout my adolescence, soccer was my absolute priority—nothing could derail my dedication or divert my attention.”
Realizations about his sexual identity did not surface until down the road. “During that era, conservative attitudes weren’t exclusive to Bavaria,” he points out. “It was only afterwards, once I realized I was gay, that I wondered how to navigate it, given that the community around me had no familiarity with the concept.”
“At age 18 in the year 2000, I said goodbye to my family in Germany and relocated to Great Britain. Following my release from Bayern Munich, I was eager for a fresh start. Over my five-year tenure in Birmingham playing for Aston Villa, homophobia was never on my radar. I never discussed it, nor did I witness anything that struck me as deeply offensive.
“My awareness shifted after departing Stuttgart in 2010 to join Lazio in Rome. By then, recognizing my own identity, I began to scrutinize my surroundings more closely. During my time with Aston Villa, however, the main focus was on German clichés and absurd wartime banter. Dealing with those cultural preconceptions was what actually initiated my deeper reflections.
“Ten years prior to my move to Britain, Justin Fashanu made history by coming out publicly as a professional player. Being just eight years old then, I knew nothing about it, but I learned about his journey later on. His experience was deeply tragic, and the suffering he endured is hard to fathom. It is heartbreaking that he felt forced to come out because he feared the press would expose him, leading to the devastating end where he took his own life.”
Football v Homophobia operates as a continuous campaign to combat anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice and foster welcoming environments across all tiers of global soccer. To discover more or find resources, go to footballvhomophobia.com
