Thomas Hitzlsperger
{{short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Thomas Hitzlsperger
| image = Hart aber fair - 2022-11-14-4140.jpg
| caption = Hitzlsperger in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|4|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Munich, West Germany
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Hellas Verona (board member)
| youthyears1 = 1988–1989
| youthclubs1 = VfB Forstinning
| youthyears2 = 1989–2000
| youthclubs2 = Bayern Munich
| youthyears3 = 2000–2001
| youthclubs3 = Aston Villa
| years1 = 2001–2005
| clubs1 = Aston Villa
| caps1 = 99
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2001
| clubs2 = → Chesterfield (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2005–2010
| clubs3 = VfB Stuttgart
| caps3 = 125
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 2010
| clubs4 = Lazio
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2010–2011
| clubs5 = West Ham United
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2011–2012
| clubs6 = VfL Wolfsburg
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2012–2013
| clubs7 = Everton
| caps7 = 7
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 259
| totalgoals = 31
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = Germany U20
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2004
| nationalteam2 = Germany U21
| nationalcaps2 = 20
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2004–2010
| nationalteam3 = Germany
| nationalcaps3 = 52
| nationalgoals3 = 6
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}}
{{Medal|Bronze|2006|}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Championship}}
{{Medal|RU|2008|}}
}}
Thomas Hitzlsperger (born 5 April 1982) is a German football executive and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, currently board member at Serie A club Hellas Verona.
In February 2019, he was appointed Head of Sport at VfB Stuttgart VfB Stuttgart, later rising to the position of CEO. He stepped down from this role in March 2022.{{cite web |date=17 March 2022 |title=Ende März ist Schluss: Hitzlsperger übergibt an Wehrle |trans-title=End of March is the end: Hitzlsperger hands over to Wehrle. |url=https://www.kicker.de/ende-maerz-ist-schluss-hitzlsperger-uebergibt-an-wehrle-894587/artikel |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=Kicker |language=de}}
In January 2025, after the acquisition of Hellas Verona by American private equity firm Presidio Investors, he was announced as a board member of the Serie A club.{{cite web | url = https://www.hellasverona.it/en/news/club-note-3 | title = Club's new Board of Directors | language = en | website = hellasverona.it | date = 19 January 2025 | access-date = 20 February 2025}}
As a player, he spent the early part of his career playing for Aston Villa in England (accompanied by a short loan spell at Chesterfield), before returning to Germany to play for Stuttgart, where he was a member of the team which won the Bundesliga in 2007. In 2010, he signed for Italian side Lazio, before moving back to England to join West Ham United later that year. He then had brief spells with Wolfsburg and Everton.
Hitzlsperger also represented the Germany national team, earning 52 caps and being selected for the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008. Following a series of injuries, he retired from football in September 2013. After his retirement, he came out as gay, the highest-profile male footballer in the world to do so.{{Cite news |last=Honigstein |first=Raphael |date=2014-01-08 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger: 'I finally figured out that I preferred living with a man' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/08/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-footballer-interview |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Club career
=Early career=
After joining the VfB Forstinning youth team in 1988, Hitzlsperger signed to the Bayern Munich Junior Team,{{Cite news | last = Whitehead | first = Richard | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger and Bruce Rioch | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1077196.ece | work = The Times | date = 20 November 2004 | access-date =22 April 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} but agreed to leave at the end of the 1999–2000 season.
=Aston Villa=
After a short trial with Celtic in August 2000, Hitzlsperger joined Aston Villa on a free youth transfer from Bayern Munich. He made his Aston Villa debut in a 3–0 home defeat to Liverpool on 13 January 2001 as an 84th-minute substitute for Jlloyd Samuel; it was his only appearance during his first season in England.{{cite web | url = https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=21492 | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger career statistics | access-date = 22 April 2008 | publisher = soccerbase.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001110002/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=21492 | archive-date = 1 October 2007 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}{{cite web |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger » Club matches |date=12 February 2019 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/thomas-hitzlsperger/2/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=3 February 2021}}
Whilst at Aston Villa, Hitzlsperger was briefly loaned out to Second Division club Chesterfield during the 2001–02 season, making his debut in a 1–0 home win against Kidderminster Harriers in the Football League Trophy second round.{{Cite news|title=Seasonal review October 2001 |url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/CustomerCharter/0,,10435~210780,00.html |publisher=Chesterfield F.C. |date=17 November 2004 |access-date=22 April 2008 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On 21 November, his link was extended for another month.{{cite news|title=Hitzlsperger stays on|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1669213.stm|access-date=24 October 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2001}} In all he made six appearances for the Spireites, five of which were in the league. He was recalled by Aston Villa during the second month of the loan spell however, as the Birmingham club had several players injured or suspended.{{Cite news | title = Hitzlsperger back at Villa | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1702195.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 December 2001 | access-date =23 April 2008}} On 20 April 2002, away to already relegated Leicester City, he hit the post after five minutes, from which Peter Crouch opened the scoring from the rebound; Hitzlsperger later scored his first senior goal in the 2–2 draw, from a solo run.{{cite news|title=Plucky Foxes hold Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1938492.stm|access-date=24 October 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2002}}
Hitzlsperger moved to Aston Villa first team following the arrival of new manager Graham Taylor. On 14 December 2002, his last-minute 30-yard strike past Russell Hoult sealed a 2–1 win over rivals West Bromwich Albion.{{Cite news |date=2002-12-14 |title=Villa claim late win |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2553031.stm |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en-GB}} He later played a significant part in the Aston Villa side that finished sixth under David O'Leary, before falling out of favour the following season. Hitzlsperger left Aston Villa as a fan favourite, and stated that he might return to the club when the opportunity comes. He gained the nickname {{lang|de|Der Hammer}} (The Hammer) during his time at Villa Park, due to his powerful left-foot shot from long-range.{{Cite news | last = Slater | first = Gary | title = Villa short of conviction | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/04/21/sfgast21.xml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050501051756/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/04/21/sfgast21.xml | url-status = dead | archive-date = 1 May 2005 | work = The Daily Telegraph | date = 21 April 2005| access-date =21 April 2008}}{{Cite news | last = Ridley | first = Ian | title = Hitzlsperger hits late on | url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-40767,00.html | work = The Guardian | date = 15 December 2002 | access-date =21 April 2008}} A fluent speaker of English, he acquired an unusual Brummie-German hybrid accent during his spell at Villa.{{cite web|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger profile |url=http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player=47330/index.html |publisher=UEFA |access-date=13 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416215037/http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player%3D47330/index.html |archive-date=16 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}
=Stuttgart=
File:Thomas Hitzlsperger Meisterfeier.jpg with VfB Stuttgart in 2007]]
Hitzlsperger signed for VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2005,{{Cite news | title = Stuttgart seal Hitzlsperger deal | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4409711.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 April 2005 | access-date =23 April 2008}} having left Aston Villa on a Bosman free transfer. He became a regular for Stuttgart, particularly in his second season in which the team won the Bundesliga title. Hitzlsperger made a large contribution to their success, playing in 30 of the team's 34 league matches and scoring seven times. He scored a crucial equaliser in the 27th minute of Stuttgart's final match of the season against Energie Cottbus – had Stuttgart lost that match, Schalke 04 would have won the title. In the end, a 63rd-minute goal by Sami Khedira secured the title for Stuttgart.{{cite web | url = http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2007/34/vfbstuttgart-cottbus/ | title = VfB Stuttgart – Energie Cottbus | access-date = 22 November 2007 | language = de | first = Senthuran | last = Sivananda | publisher = fussballdaten.de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080101180332/http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2007/34/vfbstuttgart-cottbus/ | archive-date = 1 January 2008 | df = dmy-all }}
On 14 August 2007, Hitzlsperger extended his contract until the summer of 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11811.php |title=Hitzlsperger extends until 2010 |access-date=22 November 2007 |date=14 August 2007 |publisher=vfb.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031809/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11811.php |archive-date=28 September 2007}} On 22 July 2008, he was appointed the new captain by manager Armin Veh following the departure of Fernando Meira. On 1 December 2009, he was deposed as team captain by Stuttgart's new manager Markus Babbel.{{cite web|url=http://vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2009/34341.php |title=The winds of change |access-date=1 December 2009 |date=1 December 2009 |publisher=vfb.de }}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Lazio=
On 31 January 2010, Hitzlsperger moved to Lazio on six-month contract, for around €550,000.{{cite web |date=28 October 2010 |title=Bilancio separato e consolidato al 30.06.2010 |trans-title=Separate and consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2010. |url=http://www.sslazio.it/images/stories/documenti/pdf/investor_relator/Bilancio_sep._e_consolidato_al_30.06.2010.pdf |access-date=28 December 2010 |work=SS Lazio |language=it}}{{cite news|url=http://vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2009/35169.php|title=Arrivederci Thomas Hitzlsperger|date=31 January 2010|access-date=31 January 2010|publisher=VfB Stuttgart}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He scored his only goal for Lazio on 15 May in a 3–1 win against Udinese.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=603162 |title=Result between Lazio & Udinese on 15 May 2010 |publisher=soccerbase.com |date= 15 May 2010 |access-date =6 June 2010}}
=West Ham United=
Hitzlsperger signed a three-year deal with Premier League club West Ham United in June 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100605/hammers-sign-the-hammer_2236884_2065222|title=Hammers sign The Hammer|publisher=whufc.com|date=9 May 2010|access-date=5 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607042252/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100605/hammers-sign-the-hammer_2236884_2065222|archive-date=7 June 2010}} but due to an injury did not make his debut for the Hammers until an FA Cup fifth round match against Burnley on 21 February 2011, a game in which he scored in the 23rd minute of a 5–1 win with a "trademark thunderbolt" from 25 yards.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9401156.stm|title=West Ham 5–1 Burnley|publisher=BBC Sport | date = 21 February 2011 | access-date =21 February 2011}} Hitzlsperger made his league debut for the East London club six days later in a 3–1 win against Liverpool at the Boleyn Ground.{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9404996.stm | title = West Ham 3 – 1 Liverpool | date = 27 February 2011 | access-date =27 February 2011 | publisher = BBC Sport}} He scored his first league goal for West Ham in the 3–0 home win against Stoke City on 5 March.{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9412199.stm| title = West Ham 3 – 0 Stoke| date = 5 March 2011 | access-date =6 March 2011 | publisher = BBC Sport}} At the end of the season West Ham were relegated to the Football League Championship and Hitzlsperger's contract was terminated.{{cite web|title=Sam sets out promotion plan|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110622/sam-sets-out-promotion-plan_2236884_2380269|publisher=whufc.com|access-date=22 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625045930/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110622/sam-sets-out-promotion-plan_2236884_2380269|archive-date=25 June 2011}}
=Wolfsburg=
On 17 August 2011, Hitzlsperger signed for Bundesliga club Wolfsburg on a three-year deal, after being released by West Ham three months earlier.{{Cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17082011/58/bundesliga-wolfsburg-sign-hitzlsperger.html|title=Bundesliga – Wolfsburg sign Hitzlsperger| date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|publisher= Yahoo Sport}} His contract was terminated at the end of the season.{{cite web | url = http://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/info/news/detailspage/artikel/farewell.html | title = Salihamidzic, Chris and Hitzlsperger part company with VfL Wolfsburg | date = 18 May 2012 | access-date =18 May 2012 | work = vfl-wolfsburg.de | publisher = VfL Wolfsburg}} He played for Stuttgart and Wolfsburg 131 matches in the Bundesliga and scored 20 goals in the German top flight.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/hitzlspergerdata.html | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger — Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 23 September 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}
=Everton=
On 19 October 2012, Hitzlsperger joined Premier League club Everton, after a spell on trial with the club, on a short-term contract until January 2013.{{cite web | url =http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/10/19/hitzlsperger-signs| title = Hitzlsperger Signs | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 19 October 2012 | access-date = 19 October 2012}}{{cite web | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/09/25/hitzlsperger-trains-with-blues | title = Hitzlsperger Trains With Blues | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 25 September 2012 | access-date = 7 October 2012}} He made his debut for the Toffees coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for Nikica Jelavić in a 2–1 victory against Sunderland at Goodison Park.{{cite news|title=Everton 2–1 Sunderland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20190237|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 November 2012}} He made his first Everton start away to Reading on 17 November. On 11 January 2013 he signed an extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the season.{{cite web | url =http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/01/11/hitzlsperger-to-stay-with-blues| title = Hitzlsperger To Stay With Blues | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 11 January 2013 | access-date = 13 January 2013}} At the end of the season, he was released along with Ján Mucha.{{cite news|last1=Whalley|first1=Mike|title=Hitzlsperger and Mucha leave Everton|url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/everton/story/1469669/hitzlsperger-and-mucha-leave-everton|access-date=16 June 2016|date=6 June 2013}}
In September 2013, aged 31, Hitzlsperger announced his retirement from football citing the strain of "many transfers and some injuries".{{Cite web|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger retires at 31 {{!}} VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/0000268172.jsp|access-date=1 October 2021|website=Bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website|language=en}} Although he had received offers to resume his playing career, he reported, "I've noticed: I need something else."{{cite web | url=http://www.football365.com/everton/8905130/- | title='Der Hammer' hangs up his boots | publisher=www.football365.com | access-date=4 September 2013}}
International career
Hitzlsperger captained the Germany under-19 team, and also appeared for the national under-21 side. He was then called up to the senior side by Jürgen Klinsmann and made his debut in a 2–0 win against Iran in Tehran on 9 October 2004, replacing Bernd Schneider in the 68th minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?action=search&liga=Nationalmannschaft&id=500397&lang=E&no_cache=1&name=%3BHitzlsperger&gegner= |title=Statistics – Players Info Hitzlsperger |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064418/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?action=search&liga=Nationalmannschaft&id=500397&lang=E&no_cache=1&name=%3BHitzlsperger&gegner= |archive-date=8 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat829&lang=E&cHash=110ba9f478 |title=Statistics – Iran 0:2 Germany |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064425/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat829&lang=E&cHash=110ba9f478 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}
He appeared at the 2005 Confederations Cup and also at the 2006 World Cup, where he failed to make it into Klinsmann's starting eleven, playing just 11 minutes in the third-place play-off against Portugal. He scored his first international goals on 6 September 2006 in a European Championship qualifying game against San Marino. Hitzlsperger came on as a second-half substitute to score Germany's 9th and 11th goals in a record 13–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showSchema&lang=E&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat856&cHash=0e42f4d606 |title=Statistics – San Marino 0:13 Germany |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064437/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showSchema&lang=E&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat856&cHash=0e42f4d606 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}{{Cite news | title = San Marino 0–13 Germany | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5322128.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 6 September 2006 | access-date = 23 April 2008}}
Germany's coach Joachim Löw included Hitzlsperger in his squad for the 2008 Euros, but did not start him in any of the three group games. Hitzlsperger came on as a second-half substitute in the victories over Poland and Austria, but did not feature at all in the surprise defeat to Croatia.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat882&lang=E&cHash=eb89f10a39 |title=Statistics – Germany 2:0 Poland |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064751/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat882&lang=E&cHash=eb89f10a39 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat883&lang=E&cHash=d0af1140f9 |title=Statistics – Croatia 2:1 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064758/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat883&lang=E&cHash=d0af1140f9 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat884&lang=E&cHash=7315d37455 |title=Statistics – Austria 0:1 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064835/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat884&lang=E&cHash=7315d37455 |archive-date=8 June 2011}} In the knockout stages however, he started in all three matches, helping his team to defeat Portugal in the quarter-final and setting up Philipp Lahm for a 90th-minute winner against Turkey in the semi-final.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat901&lang=E&cHash=d4de3a9755 |title=Statistics – Portugal 2:3 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064853/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat901&lang=E&cHash=d4de3a9755 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}{{cite news | date = 25 June 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363524.stm | title = Germany 3–2 Turkey | access-date =13 July 2008 | publisher = BBC Sport}} Germany were defeated 1–0 by Spain in the final, in which Hitzlsperger was substituted in the second half.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat904&lang=E&cHash=cd640c5b90 |title=Statistics – Germany 0:1 Spain |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064939/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat904&lang=E&cHash=cd640c5b90 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}
Hitzlsperger remained first-choice in 2010 World Cup qualifying, playing in all but one match and scoring a goal,{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showPlayer&full=2&liga=Nationalmannschaft&vorname=&nachname=Hitzlsperger&cHash=9865cfe3b6 |title=DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. – All Players from A-Z |publisher=Dfb.de |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608045116/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showPlayer&full=2&liga=Nationalmannschaft&vorname=&nachname=Hitzlsperger&cHash=9865cfe3b6 |archive-date=8 June 2011}} but he missed out on his nation's World Cup squad in June 2010. His international career ended on 11 August 2010 with his 52nd cap.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/hitzlsperger-intl.html | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger — Goals in International Matches | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 23 September 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}
VfB Stuttgart management
On 12 February 2019, Hitzlsperger became Head of Sport of VfB Stuttgart.{{cite news|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger replaces Michael Reschke|url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2019/abberufung-michael-reschke/|access-date=12 February 2019|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=12 February 2019}} He was promoted to CEO and resigned in January 2022 to return to his television career.
Personal life
Hitzlsperger, the youngest child of Ludwig and Anneliese Hitzlsperger, was born in Munich and grew up in Forstinning, alongside his five brothers and one sister.{{Cite news | last = Nursey | first = James | title = Hitz over – but Thomas won't forget Villa spell | url = http://www.birminghampost.net/src/webroot/birminghampost/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/2005/04/30/hitz-over-but-thomas-won-t-forget-villa-spell-50002-15461026/ | work = Birmingham Post | date = 30 April 2005 | access-date = 21 April 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521221905/http://www.birminghampost.net/src/webroot/birminghampost/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/2005/04/30/hitz-over-but-thomas-won-t-forget-villa-spell-50002-15461026/ | archive-date = 21 May 2011 | df = dmy-all }}{{Cite news |date=3 March 2005 |title=Kontrastprogramm zu München |trans-title=Contrast program to Munich |url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,344455,00.html |access-date=21 April 2008 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de}} Hitzlsperger has an interest in economics, and while in England studied investment strategies, although he did not complete the course.{{Cite news |last=Honigstein |first=Raphael |date=2007-12-14 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/dec/14/smalltalk.sportinterviews |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} He regularly visited the Bank of England to discuss finance with the bank's governor, Mervyn King, a lifelong Aston Villa fan.{{Cite news | last = Chittenden | first = Maurice | title = Bank governor's secret sessions kept German player on the ball | url = https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/bank-governors-secret-sessions-kept-german-player-on-the-ball-09zp99dfb0j | work = The Times | date = 16 April 2006 | access-date = 17 June 2022}} Hitzlsperger has blogged for Störungsmelder, an anti-racism site that encourages debate about xenophobia and racism in Germany. In June 2007, Hitzlsperger ended his eight-year relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Inga, just one month before they were due to get married.{{Cite news |date=8 June 2007 |title=Ein Monat vor Hochzeit: Liebes-Aus! |trans-title=One month before wedding: Love over! |url=http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/gesellschaft/leute/446390/Ein-Monat-vor-Hochzeit-Liebes-Aus.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913162127/http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/gesellschaft/leute/446390/Ein-Monat-vor-Hochzeit-Liebes-Aus.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |access-date=23 April 2008 |work=Rheinische Post |language=de}} On 8 January 2014, a few months after retiring, he became the highest-profile male footballer to come out as gay at the time.{{cite news|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger: Former Aston Villa player reveals he is gay|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25628806|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=BBC Sports|date=8 January 2014}}{{cite news |date=8 January 2014 |title=Hitzlsperger: "Ich äußere mich zu meiner Homosexualität" |trans-title=Hitzlsperger: "I am coming out about my homosexuality." |url=https://www.kicker.de/hitzlsperger_ich-aeussere-mich-zu-meiner-homosexualitaet-597514/artikel |access-date=8 January 2014 |newspaper=kicker |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Skácel |first=Rudolf |date=2023-02-27 |title=32win |url=https://32win.dev/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=32win.dev |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2014-01-08 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger becomes first high-profile gay footballer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/08/sport/football/thomas-hitzlsperger-germany-gay-football |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=CNN |language=en}} (In 2023, Czech Jakub Jankto became the first active male national footballer to come out as gay.) Hitzlsperger said that he had only realised that he was gay in the past few years. He received widespread support from former fellow players of the Germany national team, such as Lukas Podolski, who said of his coming out as "brave" and "an important sign of our time" as well as a reaction from Joachim Löw who said of his decision as "personal" and that he "deserved respect from every side."{{cite news |last1=Holden |first1=Kit |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger gay: The reaction in Germany after former Aston Villa player comes out |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-the-reaction-in-germany-after-former-aston-villa-player-comes-out-9047034.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-the-reaction-in-germany-after-former-aston-villa-player-comes-out-9047034.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=8 January 2014|url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}} In January 2022, Hitzlsperger told ARD, that a "collective coming out" of gay footballers could be a solution to their problems of hiding their sexuality. Hitzlsperger took the example of 125 Catholic priests in Germany who decided to come out at once.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Daniel |title=Collective coming out could be solution for gay footballers, says Thomas Hitzelsperger |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/01/collective-coming-out-could-be-solution-for-gay-footballers-says-thomas-hitzelsperger-16027261/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |work=Metro |date=1 February 2022}} In January 2024, Hitzlsperger was named by Aston Villa as a member of the Honorary Anniversary Board ahead of the club's 150th anniversary season.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-25 |title=AV 150: Honorary Board Announced |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/25/av-150--honorary-board-announced/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}} In March 2024, Hitzlsperger presented his autobiography, where he speaks about his coming-out and LGBTQ+ activism.{{cite news |last1=Ketterer |first1=Frank |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger über sein Coming-out: „Es gab kein Zurück mehr“ |trans-title=Thomas Hitzlsperger on his coming-out: "There was no turning back"|url=https://bnn.de/mittelbaden/baden-baden/thomas-hitzlsperger-ueber-sein-coming-out-es-gab-kein-zurueck-mehr|access-date=9 November 2024 |work=Badische Neueste Nachrichten |url-access=subscription|date=8 November 2024|language=de}}
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" Style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Appearances in the FA Cup and DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Appearances in the English League Cup and German League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total !rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| rowspan="6"|Aston Villa | 2000–01 | Premier League
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Premier League
|12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2002–03 | Premier League
|26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Intertoto Cup}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Premier League
|32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 5 | |||
| 2004–05 | Premier League
|28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total | 99 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 114 | 12 | — | |
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2001–02 | Second Division
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in the Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan="6"|VfB Stuttgart | 2005–06 | Bundesliga
|26 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7{{efn|name=UEFA Cup|Appearances in the UEFA Cup}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 4 | |
| 2006–07 | Bundesliga
|30 | 7 | 5 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 10
|{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2006-07/vfb-stuttgart |website=Kicker |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}} | ||||
| 2007–08 | Bundesliga
|25 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in the UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 7 | ||
| 2008–09 | Bundesliga
|32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10{{efn|name=UEFA Cup}} | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 45 | 7
|{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2008-09/vfb-stuttgart |website=Kicker |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}} | |||
| 2009–10 | Bundesliga
|12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 7{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total | 125 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 172 | 30 | — | |
| Lazio | 2009–10 | Serie A
|6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 1 | |||
| West Ham United | 2010–11 | Premier League
|11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 3 | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2011–12 | Bundesliga
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0
|{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2011-12/vfl-wolfsburg |website=Kicker |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}} | |||
| Everton | 2012–13 | Premier League
|7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total | 259 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 326 | 46 | — |
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |last1=Strack-Zimmermann |first1=Benjamin |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8656/Thomas_Hitzlsperger.html |website=National Football Teams |language=en}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Germany
|2004 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 52 | 6 |
:Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hitzlsperger goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Thomas Hitzlsperger | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | rowspan="2"|6 September 2006 | rowspan="2"|Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino | rowspan="2"|{{fb|San Marino}} | align="center"|9–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|13–0 | rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| align="center"|2 | align="center"|11–0 | |||||
| align="center"|3 | 6 June 2007 | AOL Arena, Hamburg, Germany | {{fb|Slovakia}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|2–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| align="center"|4 | 17 November 2007 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | {{fb|Cyprus}} | align="center"|4–0 | align="center"|4–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| align="center"|5 | 6 February 2008 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | {{fb|Austria}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|3–0 | Friendly |
| align="center"|6 | 6 September 2008 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | {{fb|Liechtenstein}} | align="center"|5–0 | align="center"|6–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying |
Honours
VfB Stuttgart
- Bundesliga: 2006–07
- DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2006–07
Germany
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2008
- FIFA World Cup third place: 2006
- FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2005
Individual
- kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2006–07{{cite web |title=Bundesliga Historie 2006/07 |trans-title=Bundesliga History 2006/07 |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212356/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}
- Federal Cross of Merit (2020){{cite web |title=Ordensverleihung "Vereint und füreinander da" |trans-title=Award Ceremony "United and There for Each Other" |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/2020/10/201001-Verdienstorden-TdDE.html?nn=2236336 |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=bundespraesident.de |language=de}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Fussballdaten|hitzlspergerthomas}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|thomas-hitzlsperger}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080604013650/http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/thomas-hitzlsperger Blog at Störungsmelder]
{{2006–07 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Germany squads
| bg = white
| fg = black
| bordercolor = black
| list1 =
{{Germany squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitzlsperger, Thomas}}
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:Chesterfield F.C. players
Category:VfB Stuttgart players
Category:West Ham United F.C. players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:Footballers from Munich
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:Germany men's international footballers
Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:German LGBTQ footballers
Category:20th-century German LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century German LGBTQ people
Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Category:21st-century German sportsmen
Category:German autobiographers
Category:Association football executives
Category:German sports executives and administrators