Robbie Rogers, a midfielder for both the U.S. National soccer team and for teams in the U.K., announced that he is gay, as well as retiring from his sport.
Rogers, 25, made the announcement on his website Friday, saying that he was ready to "discover myself away from football." Rogers played for Major League Soccer in the U.S. for five seasons, where he started 18 games and scored two goals. He then went on to play for the English Premier League's Leeds United until he was released last month.
"I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest," he said in the post. "Honesty is a bitch, but makes life so simple and clear. My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended."
"Yesterday I thought he was a very good player, and I still think that today," Chicago Fire coach Frank Klopas said, according to Out. "Should Robbie want to return to the game, we would still be open to him being part of the Fire."
The Fire acquired rights to Rogers if he decides to return to Major League Soccer, according to Yahoo Sports.
In addition to his soccer career, during which he played in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, Rogers is the co-owner of the burgeoning menswear brand Halsey.
Read Rogers' full letter on his site.
Correction: Robbie Rogers' name was corrected from Robbie Roberts. We apologize for the error.
