As the second active professional soccer player ever, Jake Daniels (17) of Blackpool FC came out as gay on Monday. Appropriate timing, because Tuesday (May 17) is International Day Against Homophobia!
“Now is the right time to do that,” Daniels said. “I feel ready to tell people my story,” said the 17-year-old, who recently signed his first professional contract with English second division club Blackpool, in an interview with Sky Sports.
So far, Daniels is the only active professional footballer in Europe who has taken this step.
Before Daniels, Australia’s Josh Cavallo (22) from Adelaide United publicly spoke about his homosexuality last October. The last time in England in 1990 was the late Justin Fashanu († 37). In Germany, the only professional to date who came out was former national player Thomas Hitzlsperger (40) after the end of his career. In 2013, former US international and ex-major league soccer pro Robbie Rogers (35) did it.
If he can help others with it, that would be awesome.”
Before the interview, of course, he informed his family and his club: “For a long time I thought that I would hide my truth because I wanted to be a professional footballer, which I am now,” said the attacker.
Photo: officialjakedaniels/Instagram
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Daniels expressed hope that other active players will now follow his lead. “I’m only 17 but I’m aware that it’s what I want to do,” said the Blackpool star, “and if by coming out, other people see that and that Feeling that maybe they can do the same would be awesome.”
Four goals after the liberation!
The decision has already paid off, says the striker: “The day after I told my mother and sister, I scored four goals,” said Daniels. “It shows what a weight I got off my shoulders and what a tremendous relief it was.”
Also on the club’s club website, Daniels wrote a few lines about his coming out: “There are people out there in the same field as me who may not feel comfortable revealing their sexuality. I just want to tell them that they don’t have to change who they are or how they should be just to fit in. The most important thing is that you are yourself and happy.”
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