Move over Robbie Rogers, we have a new gay football star to obsess over.

Former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has announced that he is gay saying “I’ve never been ashamed of the way I am.”

The 31 year-old Germany native came out in an interview Die Zeit newspaper today, and explained the reason for his coming out now was to “move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards.”

Hitzlsperger offered some insight into the casual homophobia that he says is still very much present in the locker room and how he tries not to let the negative comments get to him.

He told Die Zeit, “Just picture 20 men sat around a table together drinking. You’ve just got to let the majority be, just as long as the jokes are halfway funny, and the talk about homosexuality doesn’t get too insulting. In England, Germany or Italy, homosexuality is not taken seriously as an issue, at least not in the dressing room.”

His announcement was met with positive comments from other sports stars. Former player and TV personality Gary Lineker tweeted,

Congratulations to Thomas Hitzlsperger on bravely being the first player to have played in the PL to ‘come out’ http://t.co/9boXWNpnFZ

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 8, 2014

 Football fans also tweeted their support for Hitzlsperger.

yay, congratulations Thomas Hitzlsperger, the most high-profile footballer to come out as gay! Real courage: http://t.co/0sxLH8Br24 #LGBT

— Calum Sherwood (@CalumSPlath) January 8, 2014

Bravo to Thomas Hitzlsperger, but still such a shame that footballers don’t feel able to come out before they retire

— Tom Chivers (@TomChivers) January 8, 2014

Hitzlsperger tweeted shortly after the news went public,

Hello everyone! All these messages about my news, I am overwhelmed from this and I can’t say thank you enough times!

— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitzl) January 8, 2014

I feel now of all time is the right time to break the news too. I now wish this is the start of many more who feel pressure to break it. TH

— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitzl) January 8, 2014

Over his 13 year career, Hitzlsperger has won 52 caps for Germany. In 2006 he represented his country at the World Cup.

Last year, Hitzlsperger retired from professional sports due to a string of injuries.