Christian Dobrick, 29, an under‑19 coach at Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, has publicly come out as gay and used the moment to challenge attitudes toward homosexuality in men’s football.
Speaking to German broadcaster RTL and Stern magazine, Dobrick said gay men are still “treated like extraterrestrials” in the professional game. He suggested the pro ranks likely include fewer openly gay men than the general population because “the pressure to lead a hetero‑normative life is so big that fewer gay footballers make it to the top because they have to use up their energy on problems which have nothing to do with sport.”
Despite anti‑discrimination campaigns by federations, clubs, fan groups and sports media, no active player in Germany’s top three men’s leagues has come out as gay during their career. By contrast, Dobrick noted, women’s football has not carried the same taboo around sexual orientation.
Dobrick arrived at St. Pauli in summer 2025 after previous youth roles at TSG Hoffenheim and Holstein Kiel. He criticized the casual language and slurs used around the game, saying that remarks such as calling a player a “puff” for complaining about physicality feed a subconscious homophobia and a distorted image of gay men.
For years he kept his orientation private for fear it would harm his prospects of one day coaching at first‑team level, perhaps in the Bundesliga. “For a long time, I was uncertain whether I would be harming my career prospects by coming out,” he said. “But this game of hide‑and‑seek was costing me too much strength.”
Dobrick made his announcement independently of his employer. FC St. Pauli, a club known for a tolerant stance and political activism, publicly backed him. Club president Oke Göttlich said the club stands fully behind its under‑19 coach: “It’s simple and it applies to everyone: love whoever you want!”
An encounter with Jürgen Klopp influenced his decision. Klopp reportedly told young coaches in Salzburg, “As a coach, you can be whoever you want, but you have to stand for something, you have to be yourself.” Dobrick adopted that message as a professional motto and encouraged other gay players to “take the plunge into the cold water and swim.”
Although no active male player has come out in German men’s professional leagues, there are openly gay figures in German football administration and history: VfB Stuttgart chief executive Alexander Wehrle is openly gay, and former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger publicly came out in January 2014.
After going public, Dobrick thanked colleagues and followers on Instagram: “The same coach as I was yesterday. Now, full focus on the weekend against Dresden!”
Edited by: Wesley Dockery