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Robbie Rogers - the footballer who came out as gay - could make a comeback

The US international footballer immediately retired after he revealed he was gay

Matthew Moore
Thursday 02 May 2013 11:36 BST
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Rogers has 18 caps for the US national team
Rogers has 18 caps for the US national team (AP)

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Robbie Rogers, the US international footballer who announced his retirement after coming out as gay, could be set for a return to the sport.

The 25-year-old former Leeds United winger is back in training with the Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham’s former club.

If Rogers does decide for a full return to Major League Soccer, he would be one of the first out gay professional footballers to take the field anywhere in the world.

“There’s a good chance that I might come back to [football] but I need a few months to chill out, hang out with my family, go surf in California, just relax,” he said in an interview with CNN.

Rogers made headlines in February when he revealed his sexuality and announced his retirement from football in a heartfelt blog post titled “The Next Chapter”. He made 18 appearances for the US national team before his career was blighted by injury. The Californian quit the game after spells with Leeds United and Stevenage Borough.

“Secrets can cause so much internal damage,” he wrote in the blog. “People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay.”

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