Ledley King and Lawrence Dallaglio make appearance at Populous event
3 years ago
Germany Thomas Hitzlsperger has transitioned from a professional footballer known for his powerful left foot to an executive and advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports.
Hitzlsperger and his business partners acquired 20% of Aalborg BK's stakes, later owning a 51% stake in the club.
German Football legend and former PUMA player Thomas Hitzlsperger visited Nuremberg Pride to read from his book “Mutproben” (dares) and engage with the community.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is represented by Speakers Corner as a speaker for events, highlighting his advocacy for diversity and inclusion in sports.
Born on April 5, 1982, in Munich, West Germany, Thomas Hitzlsperger began his youth career in 1988 with VfB Forstinning before joining the Bayern Munich Junior Team. In 2000, he moved to Aston Villa in England, making his senior debut in 2001 and earning the nickname “Der Hammer” for his powerful shots. After a loan spell at Chesterfield, he became a regular for Aston Villa before transferring to VfB Stuttgart in 2005. At Stuttgart, he played a crucial role in the team’s 2007 Bundesliga title victory, scoring a key equalizer in the final match of the season. He served as team captain for part of his tenure at Stuttgart.
Hitzlsperger’s career continued with stints at Lazio in Italy in 2010, followed by a return to the Premier League with West Ham United later that year. He later played for VfL Wolfsburg and Everton, retiring from professional football in September 2013 due to injuries. Throughout his playing career, he earned 52 caps for the Germany national team, participating in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2008, where Germany reached the final. After retiring, Hitzlsperger made headlines in 2014 by publicly coming out as gay, becoming the highest-profile male footballer at the time to do so. This act was seen as a significant step for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
Following his playing career, Hitzlsperger moved into executive roles. In February 2019, he was appointed Head of Sport at VfB Stuttgart, later becoming CEO before stepping down in March 2022. He has also taken on a punditry role, served as an ambassador for Athletic Bilbao, and invested in Danish club Aalborg BK through his company Sports Strategy Excellence 22. In January 2025, he joined Serie A club Hellas Verona as a board member. Hitzlsperger has consistently advocated for diversity and inclusion, challenging traditional norms within the football community and contributing to broader societal discussions around acceptance.
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