The football world has been quick to rally round Thomas Hitzlsperger, who has become the first German international to "come out" as a homosexual.
Hitzlsperger's announcement in the magazine Die Zeit has been heralded by players across Europe as an important step forward.
And on a day when Paris Saint Germain's Brazilian star Alex walked into a row over homophobia for comments he made in a TV documentary, the question of homosexuality in sport has suddenly become a major talking point.
Hitzlsperger's revelations were greeted by fellow-German international Lukas Podolski of Arsenal as "an important sign of our time".
In an interview to be published in Thursday's edition of Die Zeit, Hitzlsperger, 31, revealed: "I am declaring my homosexuality because I want the question of homosexuality in the world of professional sport to be out in the open."
But he admitted that reaching the agonising decision to come out had been "a long and difficult process".
Hitzlsperger, capped 52 times by Germany between 2004 and 2010, added: "It is only in recent years I have come to realise I preferred living with a man."
The midfielder, who hung up his boots at the end of last season, plied his trade in Germany, England and Italy with Aston Villa, Everton, Wolfsburg and Lazio among others before retiring last year.
Hitzlsperger said he had decided to "come out" because now was "a good time" for him and because he wanted to promote the discussion of homosexuality in professional sport.
"I've never been ashamed of the way I am," he added, although it had not always been easy to cope with some of the comments dished out.
"In England, Germany or Italy, homosexuality is not taken seriously as an issue, at least not in the dressing room.
