Thomas Hitzlsperger

Thomas Hitzlsperger, a former Premier League footballer and CEO of VfB Stuttgart, is a pioneering advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports and an inspirational LGBT speaker.

Thomas Hitzlsperger, famously known as The Hammer, boasts 52 caps for Germany and has played for top teams such as Aston Villa, Lazio Rom, VfL Wolfsburg, West Ham United, and Everton FC. He served as the CEO of VfB Stuttgart, showcasing his leadership both on and off the field.

Thomas played for the Bayern Munich Academy for 11 years before leaving Germany at 18. As a player, his talent was widely recognised during his time with Aston Villa, VfB Stuttgart, West Ham United, and Everton FC. Despite his success, Thomas faced inner struggles about coming out as gay. Inspired by other sports stars, he courageously came out to the public in 2014, shortly after his last game for Everton FC, becoming the only Premier League footballer to identify as a gay man.

After making 117 Premier League appearances, Thomas transitioned into leadership roles. He served as the Academy Director and later CEO at VfB Stuttgart. Beyond his executive career, he is a Sports Pundit for Fox Sports, ESPN, Amazon, Sky, and BBC, and Co-Owner of the Danish club Aalborg BK. In 2022, he enhanced his business acumen with an Executive Course from Harvard Business School. His achievements have earned him the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the DJK Ethics Award, and the Julius Hirsch Honorary Award.

Thomas is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports, often emphasising the need to eliminate prejudice and outdated values from football. He shared his story in the TNT Sports documentary “Rylan: Homophobia, Football & Me” and was named a Global Ambassador at the 2023 Football Business Awards. Thomas Hitzlsperger’s experiences, leadership, and dedication to increasing diversity and inclusion make him an inspirational LGBT speaker.