SCOTLAND'S first openly gay football player is set to retire.
Zander Murray made history in 2022, saying he made the decision to share his sexuality to help others who are struggling about opening up.
The striker made the announcement in September 2022, and it came after Blackpool midfielder Jake Daniels in May 2022 became the first active professional player in the UK since Justin Fashanu in 1990 to announce he is gay.
Now, Murray has taken the decision to hang up his boots but will see out the end of the current season with his club Gala Fairydean Rovers.
The 32-year-old led Edinburgh’s Pride 2023 march in June, and was also the subject of a BBC Scotland Disclosure documentary titled Out on the Pitch in March this year.
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Confirming his retirement on X, the 32-year-old posted a short message saying: “A year I’ll never forget. Looking forward to next chapter. Happy new year when it comes.”
On Instagram, he added: “What a ride this year. Looking forward to next chapter now. Thanks for all the love and support.”
Previously asked how big a barrier football was to him being open about it, Murray said: “It’s been so challenging, mainly in my head I’ll be brutally honest, I’ve just created so many issues with it.
“And obviously things have happened in the past, that’s been preying on my mind, and not having a lot of role models growing up, that was a huge challenge for me.”
He said it has been great to see other players being open about their sexuality such as Daniels and referees Craig Napier and Lloyd Wilson, who in June revealed they were gay, and Australian player Josh Cavallo.
Murray said that he hopes he can also act as a role model for other players.
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