Lokomotiva of Czech Republic midfielder, Jakub Jankto has come out to publicly declare that he is gay.
Jankto who plays for Sparta Prague and is on loan from Spanish side, Getafe made this revelation on Twitter on Monday.
Following his big revelation, Jakub Jankto becomes the first active international player in men’s football to openly declare to be gay.
The 27-year-old made his first appearance for the Lokomotiva of Czech Republic in 2017 and has gone on to make forty-five (45) appearances, scoring four goals in the process.
Jakub Jankto’s statements on being a gay:
Jakub Jankto said: “Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, I have a family, I have my friends,”
“I have a job that I have been doing as best as I can for years with seriousness, with professionalism and passion.”
He added: “Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love.
“I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”
The first professional footballer for the past thirty years to come out as “gay” in the United Kingdom
In 2022, Jake Daniels who plays for Blackpool became the first professional footballer in the history of the United Kingdom football for the past thirty (30) years to put out his status of being gay while still an active footballer.
Before Jake Daniels made his declaration, Justin Fashanu was the previous active men’s professional player in the United Kingdom to make his stand while still playing active football.
Justin Fashanu played for clubs in Scotland and England after disclosing that he is gay in October, 1990.
The current player before Jakub Jankto in top-flight football who is gay
The only active player prior to Jakub Jankto in active top-flight football to have revealed his gay status to the public is Adelaide United footballer, Josh Cavello who disclosed the information in October, 2022.
In a statement released by Sparta Prague, Jakub Jankto had publicly conversed his sexual orientation with the management of the club, his coaches and also his team-mates “some time ago”.
“Everything else concerns his personal life,” the club added.
“No further comment. No further questions.
“You have our support. Live your life, Jakub.” – Statements from Czech Republic football club, Sparta Prague.
Since joining the club based in Prague in August 2022, Jankto has played ten (10) league games for Sparta Prague, scoring once and providing one assist as well.
He spent a massive number of years in his career with clubs in Italy plying his trade for clubs like Udinese, Ascoli and Sampdoria, before he put pen to paper for Spanish team Getafe in 2021.
Jakub Jankto was groomed in the junior teams of Sparta Prague before he was sold in 2014 to Italian club, Udinese.
