Jakub Jankto, who became the first active international player to publicly come out as gay, has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 29.
Jankto came out as gay in a social media post back in February 2023, with the Czech player stating ‘I no longer want to hide myself.’
At the time, Jankto was still an active member of the national team having made 45 appearances for the Czech Republic at senior level, scoring four times.
Jankto has been without a club since his two-year contract with the Italian side Cagliari expired in June.
Having featured 20 times during his debut season at the club, Jankto did not make an appearance last season.
In a social media post, Jankto revealed he had been trying to overcame an ankle injury for the whole season, with the issue now leading to his retirement.
Jakub Jankto, the first active international footballer to come out as gay, has retired at the age of 29
Jankto explained on social media that injury had led to his retirement, as well as his desire to be close to his son in Prague
Jankto had come out as gay in an emotional social media post back in February 2023
Another key reason was his decision to move back to Prague to spend more time with his son, whom he had with his former partner Marketa Ottomanska.
‘I’ve received too many messages if I continue in football career, unfortunately I don’t.
‘The reason [is] simple. I suffered very serious injury (completely damaged ligaments in my ankle). I was trying to overcome it, to get through the whole year.
‘Anyway the key point was my child with which I couldn’t have a possibility to meet more often.
‘I wanted change this situation cause we have just one family and I wanted to be close my son in Prague. That’s why I decided to move in Prague.
‘Thank you all the people who supported me, I appreciate.’
Jankto, who could play as a left-back, midfielder or a winger, began his career in Italy with Udinese, before enjoying loan stints with Ascoli and Sampdoria.
He joined Sampdoria permanently in 2019 and two years later sealed a move to the Spanish side Getafe.
Jankto shares a son with his former partner Marketa Ottomanska, who he split with in 2021
Jankto then had a spell on loan with Czech side Sparta Prague during the 2022-23 season, where he publicly came out in a social media video.
He was part of the Sparta team who were crowned Czech champions that season.
His Instagram now states he is an assistant coach of the Under-7s team at Dukla Prague.
Jankto, who had split with Ottomanska two years prior to his announcement, had told the BBC in 2023 that he was happy with his decision to go public.
‘If I could do it again, I definitely would, because it helped myself and I think it helped many, many people. It was a huge moment for all footballers, and many professional footballers at many clubs wrote to me, thanking me for it.
‘I think it set a good, positive example for everybody, and now I’m really happy that I can play without hiding or being scared. I just carry on like nothing has happened, and that’s really, really good.’
He added: ‘When I got into professional football teams, being gay was still seen as “not normal”, and football is still a little bit homophobic, I think.
‘So I was scared when I was 18 or 19 and next to other guys and couldn’t open messages on WhatsApp, because I always had the fear that someone might see a message or a photo from a guy… [however] coming out is what I needed to do to get better.
Jankto earned 45 caps for the Czech Republic and played at European Championships in 2021
Jankto did not make an appearance for Cagliari last season as he battled an ankle injury
‘I also thought to myself: “Well look, Jakub, you are a professional footballer, but you have your life that you have to live like you want.” And for me, that was fundamental.’
Jankto is one of few men’s players to come out while being an active player.
In 2021, Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo became the first current top-flight male professional in the world to come out.
Just one year later, Blackpool’s Jake Daniels came out as the UK’s only openly gay active male professional footballer.
