Follow usCzech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto became the first current international in men’s soccer to publicly come out as gay.
— Jakub Jankto (@jakubjanktojr) February 13, 2023
The 27-year-old Sparta Prague Jankto, playing on loan from Spanish side Getafe, made his senior debut for the Czech Republic in 2017 and has scored four goals in 45 appearances.
“Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, I have a family, I have my friends,” Jankto, who also played for Italian clubs Udinese and Sampdoria, said.
“I have a job that I have been doing as best as I can for years with seriousness, with professionalism and passion.
“Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love.
“I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”
Last year, Blackpool’s Jake Daniels became the first professional player in the UK men’s game for more than 30 years to come out while still playing.
Before Daniels publicly came out, Justin Fashanu was the last active men’s professional soccer player in the UK to come out during his playing career, featuring for clubs in England and Scotland after announcing in October 1990 that he was gay.
Australia’s Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo was the only current openly gay top-flight male professional player in the world, announcing it last October.
Sparta Prague said in a statement Jankto had openly discussed his sexual orientation with the club’s management, coach and team-mates “some time ago”.
“Everything else concerns his personal life,” the club said.
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