04 August 2023 , 08:55
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Blackpool striker Jake Daniels is optimistic a Premier League footballer will come out as a gay or bisexual "in the couple of years".
Daniels became the first active male professional footballer in the UK to come out as gay in more than three decades in May 2022. The teenager, who was just 17 at the time, was praised for his "courage" and "bravery" by many high-profile Premier League stars.
Although top-flight footballers have come out as gay before, none have done so while being a current member of a Premier League squad. Yet Daniels is confident that will change in the near future in a huge boost to the LGBT+ community.
The emerging star believes the ball is now "rolling" because several male footballers have revealed their sexuality in the last few years, including himself. Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto, who plays for Serie A side Cagliari, came out as gay in February.
Daniels was asked by Sky Sports News whether he expects a Premier League star to come out as gay in the future. He said: "I'm hoping to see it in the next couple of years. With myself coming out and others coming out after me, it's got the ball rolling in football.
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"It would be a proud moment. Being the highest (level) player to come out so far, it's such a massive achievement for me. If someone was to come out even higher, it just shows there are more players out there.
"I think it would get even more recognition. They're playing in front of thousands of fans each week and it would be such a massive thing for the LGBTQ+ community."
Thomas Hitzlsperger came out as gay after his retirement (Getty Images)Justin Fashanu became the first male professional footballer in the UK to come out as gay in 1990 and represented the likes of Norwich and Nottingham Forest in England's top flight. Yet he never played in the Premier League, which was launched in 1992.
Thomas Hitzlsperger made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton. The Germany international came out as gay in January 2014, but that was after he retired from professional football.
Daniels, who's still making his way into professional football as a promising 18-year-old, has described coming out as gay as "the best thing I've ever done". He will be hoping to feature more regularly for Blackpool, who play in League One, in the near future.
Daniels added: "I like to think I have (created a pathway). We've had three or four people come out since I did. I'm proud to be a role model for other people to come out. For me, it was, 'Don't live your life to try and please someone else'. If you're gay and you want to come out, but you're scared of how people will react, it's a massive thing to be able to do it.
"But don't just live your life to try and make other people happy - that was one thing I definitely learnt. I thought it would have been a scary place and time, but it wasn't. It was the best thing I've ever done."