Former Aston Villa, West Ham United and Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger says there was no way he could've come out while a player.
Hitzlsperger claims it would have been "impossible" to come out as gay during his career.
The 32-year-old told the Metro: "We must do the groundwork now so gay players in the future can come out if they want to and be accepted in the dressing room and in the grounds.
"For me it would have been almost impossible had I still been playing - not because of the fans or the other players, but because of the media.
"In an ideal world it shouldn't (matter) but we're in 2014 and we're still talking about it."
