Openly Gay Soccer Star Anton Hysen Says He’s Never Had A Boyfriend: “I’m Not Into All This Stereotypical Gay-Pride Thing. The Person I Like Will Have To Like Sports”

The Sun interviews smoking sexy Anton Hysen, the 20 year old son of former Liverpool star Glenn Hysen, who recently became only the second European professional soccer player to come out, Justin Fashanu having done so in 1990. England cricketer Steve Davies and rugby star Gareth Thomas are the only other prominent British sportsmen to come out, as the wait continues for a Premier League or Football League player to crack this sporting ceiling. Former Swedish Under-17 international Hysen plays for Utsiktens, a fourth-tier team managed by his dad. And he insists the reaction to his news has been extremely supportive, saying that "I have so many reasons to be positive about the situation. You have to teach some homophobic people how to think but I am happy I did it. Everyone asks me if I know any other gay footballers but I don't. I would encourage them to come out and support each other. It is sad no one has the guts to come out. I respect the fact we all deal with situations in a different way and I joke about the situation. When we are in the showers, I obviously say stuff like 'Don't drop the soap'. I really don't care. When I walk into the dressing room I say 'Watch out, he's here' - but I know they respect me. And I respect them. I have had just one letter from a fan who says he won't come and watch the team any more. He says I am nasty and stuff like that. I'm thinking 'We'll now just get one fan less a match - big deal'. One of my team-mates has offered to beat him up for me but I said 'Leave it'. Statistically, there has to be at least one gay footballer in England. Of course it is sad that people are not honest. At the beginning there were problems with skin colour - this is the same. It shouldn't matter. I've known for a while that I am gay. Probably since I was 17 or 18. I have had five girlfriends. The last one was pretty serious and, when I told her I was gay, she was pretty pissed off, as you could imagine. When you consider dumping a supermodel, you know you are gay. She was beautiful, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen but obviously, I had an issue. I did tell some of my team-mates a while back. No one really cared. I am not playing in the top league but I am still an active, professional footballer. I understand why footballers are afraid of telling the truth. Obviously the first worry is the reaction of the team-mates, that fans will make comments. Maybe they fear the family will say 'We don't want you'. Those reactions, particularly from your family, are a big thing. But you have to be strong." His father, a gay icon during his career, was accused of homophobia in 2001 after an altercation with another man who groped him in an airport restroom, but in 2007, at a gay pride festival in Stockholm, went on stage to stress he was not homophobic, and spoke of his support and sympathy for closeted soccer players. Anton says that he had “not told my dad I was gay but, even in 2007, I think he knew." He adds he not yet had a serious relationship, but has had recent offers. "I have never had a boyfriend. I am having trouble with that,” he said. “I know I am gay but I am picky. I am not into all this stereotypical gay-pride thing. The person I like will have to like sports. I have had quite a few proposals from men. I have had to shut down my Facebook page because of all the offers from Canada, Brazil, the States, Australia and Romania. I was amazed."