View source for Thomas Hitzlsperger

{{short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Thomas Hitzlsperger
| image = Hart aber fair - 2022-11-14-4140.jpg
| caption = Hitzlsperger in 2022
| fullname = Thomas Hitzlsperger<ref name="FIFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Germany |publisher=FIFA |page=12 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1982|4|5|df=y}}<ref name="FIFA"/>
| birth_place = [[Munich]], [[West Germany]]
| height = 1.84 m<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger Profile |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1840/Thomas-Hitzlsperger/overview |website=Premier League |access-date=15 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]] (board member)
| youthyears1 = 1988–1989
| youthclubs1 = VfB Forstinning
| youthyears2 = 1989–2000
| youthclubs2 = [[Bayern Munich Junior Team|Bayern Munich]]
| youthyears3 = 2000–2001
| youthclubs3 = [[Aston Villa Under-23s and Academy|Aston Villa]]
| years1 = 2001–2005
| clubs1 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| caps1  = 99
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2001
| clubs2 = → [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] (loan)
| caps2  = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2005–2010
| clubs3 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| caps3  = 125
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 2010
| clubs4 = [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]]
| caps4  = 6
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2010–2011
| clubs5 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| caps5  = 11
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2011–2012
| clubs6 = [[VfL Wolfsburg]]
| caps6  = 6
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2012–2013
| clubs7 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| caps7  = 7<!--domestic league only, no cup!-->
| goals7 = 0<!--domestic league only, no cup!-->
| totalcaps = 259
| totalgoals = 31
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-20 football team|Germany U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2004
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 20
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2004–2010
| nationalteam3 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| nationalcaps3 = 52
| nationalgoals3 = 6
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 2008|2008]]|}}
}}
'''Thomas Hitzlsperger''' (born 5 April 1982) is a German football executive and former professional  [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]], currently board member at [[Serie A]] club [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]].

In February 2019, he was appointed Head of Sport at VfB Stuttgart [[VfB Stuttgart]], later rising to the position of CEO. He stepped down from this role in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 March 2022 |title=Ende März ist Schluss: Hitzlsperger übergibt an Wehrle |trans-title=End of March is the end: Hitzlsperger hands over to Wehrle. |url=https://www.kicker.de/ende-maerz-ist-schluss-hitzlsperger-uebergibt-an-wehrle-894587/artikel |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |language=de}}</ref>

In January 2025, after the acquisition of [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]] by American private equity firm Presidio Investors, he was announced as a board member of the [[Serie A]] club.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hellasverona.it/en/news/club-note-3 | title = Club's new Board of Directors | language = en | website = hellasverona.it | date = 19 January 2025 | access-date = 20 February 2025}}</ref>

As a player, he spent the early part of his career playing for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in England (accompanied by a short loan spell at [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]), before returning to Germany to play for [[VfB Stuttgart|Stuttgart]], where he was a member of the team which won the [[Bundesliga]] in 2007. In 2010, he signed for Italian side [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]], before moving back to England to join [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] later that year. He then had brief spells with [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].

Hitzlsperger also represented the [[Germany national football team|Germany national team]], earning 52 caps and being selected for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]].  Following a series of injuries, he retired from football in September 2013. After his retirement, he [[Coming out|came out as gay]],  the highest-profile male footballer in the world to do so.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Honigstein |first=Raphael |date=2014-01-08 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger: 'I finally figured out that I preferred living with a man' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/08/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-footballer-interview |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Early career===
After joining the VfB Forstinning youth team in 1988, Hitzlsperger signed to the [[Bayern Munich Junior Team]],<ref name="Rioch">{{Cite news | last = Whitehead | first = Richard | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger and Bruce Rioch | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1077196.ece | work = [[The Times]] | date = 20 November 2004 | access-date =22 April 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but agreed to leave at the end of the 1999–2000 season.

===Aston Villa===
After a short trial with [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in August 2000, Hitzlsperger joined [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on a free youth transfer from Bayern Munich. He made his Aston Villa debut in a 3–0 home defeat to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on 13 January 2001 as an 84th-minute substitute for [[Jlloyd Samuel]]; it was his only appearance during his first season in England.<ref name="Rioch"/><ref name="soccerbase">{{cite web | url = https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=21492 | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger career statistics | access-date = 22 April 2008 | publisher = soccerbase.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001110002/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=21492 | archive-date = 1 October 2007 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football">{{cite web |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger » Club matches |date=12 February 2019 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/thomas-hitzlsperger/2/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=3 February 2021}}</ref>

Whilst at Aston Villa, Hitzlsperger was briefly loaned out to [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] club [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] during the [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]] season, making his debut in a 1–0 home win against [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] in the [[Football League Trophy]] [[2001–02 Football League Trophy|second round]].<ref name="CFC Oct 2001">{{Cite news|title=Seasonal review October 2001 |url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/CustomerCharter/0,,10435~210780,00.html |publisher=[[Chesterfield F.C.]] |date=17 November 2004 |access-date=22 April 2008 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 21 November, his link was extended for another month.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hitzlsperger stays on|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1669213.stm|access-date=24 October 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2001}}</ref> In all he made six appearances for the Spireites, five of which were in the league.<ref name="soccerbase"/> He was recalled by Aston Villa during the second month of the loan spell however, as the Birmingham club had several players injured or suspended.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Hitzlsperger back at Villa | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1702195.stm | publisher = [[BBC Sport]] | date = 10 December 2001 | access-date =23 April 2008}}</ref> On 20 April 2002, away to already relegated [[Leicester City]], he hit the post after five minutes, from which [[Peter Crouch]] opened the scoring from the rebound; Hitzlsperger later scored his first senior goal in the 2–2 draw, from a solo run.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plucky Foxes hold Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1938492.stm|access-date=24 October 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2002}}</ref>

Hitzlsperger moved to Aston Villa first team following the arrival of new manager [[Graham Taylor (footballer)|Graham Taylor]]. On 14 December 2002, his last-minute 30-yard strike past [[Russell Hoult]] sealed a 2–1 win over [[Aston Villa F.C.–West Bromwich Albion F.C. rivalry|rivals]] [[West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-12-14 |title=Villa claim late win |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2553031.stm |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He later played a significant part in the Aston Villa side that finished sixth under [[David O'Leary]], before falling out of favour the following season. Hitzlsperger left Aston Villa as a fan favourite, and stated that he might return to the club when the opportunity comes. He gained the nickname {{lang|de|Der Hammer}} (The Hammer) during his time at Villa Park, due to his powerful left-foot shot from long-range.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Slater | first = Gary | title = Villa short of conviction | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/04/21/sfgast21.xml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050501051756/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/04/21/sfgast21.xml | url-status = dead | archive-date = 1 May 2005 | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | date = 21 April 2005| access-date =21 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Ridley | first = Ian | title = Hitzlsperger hits late on | url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-40767,00.html | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = 15 December 2002 | access-date =21 April 2008}}</ref> A fluent speaker of English, he acquired an unusual [[Brummie dialect|Brummie]]-German hybrid accent during his spell at Villa.<ref name="Euro 2008 profile">{{cite web|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger profile |url=http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player=47330/index.html |publisher=UEFA |access-date=13 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416215037/http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player%3D47330/index.html |archive-date=16 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Stuttgart===
[[File:Thomas Hitzlsperger Meisterfeier.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Hitzlsperger celebrates winning the [[Bundesliga]] with [[VfB Stuttgart]] in [[2006–07 Bundesliga|2007]]]]
Hitzlsperger signed for [[VfB Stuttgart]] in the summer of 2005,<ref>{{Cite news | title = Stuttgart seal Hitzlsperger deal | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4409711.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 April 2005 | access-date =23 April 2008}}</ref> having left [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on a [[Bosman free transfer]]. He became a regular for Stuttgart, particularly in his second season in which the team won the Bundesliga title. Hitzlsperger made a large contribution to their success, playing in 30 of the team's 34 league matches and scoring seven times. He scored a crucial equaliser in the 27th minute of Stuttgart's final match of the season against [[FC Energie Cottbus|Energie Cottbus]]&nbsp;– had Stuttgart lost that match, [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]] would have won the title. In the end, a 63rd-minute goal by [[Sami Khedira]] secured the title for Stuttgart.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2007/34/vfbstuttgart-cottbus/ | title = VfB Stuttgart&nbsp;– Energie Cottbus | access-date = 22 November 2007 | language = de | first = Senthuran | last = Sivananda | publisher = fussballdaten.de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080101180332/http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2007/34/vfbstuttgart-cottbus/ | archive-date = 1 January 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

On 14 August 2007, Hitzlsperger extended his contract until the summer of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11811.php |title=Hitzlsperger extends until 2010 |access-date=22 November 2007 |date=14 August 2007 |publisher=vfb.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031809/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11811.php |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> On 22 July 2008, he was appointed the new captain  by manager [[Armin Veh]] following the departure of [[Fernando Meira]]. On 1 December 2009, he was deposed as team captain by Stuttgart's new manager [[Markus Babbel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2009/34341.php |title=The winds of change |access-date=1 December 2009 |date=1 December 2009 |publisher=vfb.de }}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Lazio===
On 31 January 2010, Hitzlsperger moved to [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] on six-month contract, for around €550,000.<ref name="Lazio">{{cite web |date=28 October 2010 |title=Bilancio separato e consolidato al 30.06.2010 |trans-title=Separate and consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2010. |url=http://www.sslazio.it/images/stories/documenti/pdf/investor_relator/Bilancio_sep._e_consolidato_al_30.06.2010.pdf |access-date=28 December 2010 |work=SS Lazio |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2009/35169.php|title=Arrivederci Thomas Hitzlsperger|date=31 January 2010|access-date=31 January 2010|publisher=VfB Stuttgart}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He scored his only goal for Lazio on 15 May in a 3–1 win against [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=603162 |title=Result between Lazio & Udinese on 15 May 2010 |publisher=soccerbase.com |date= 15 May 2010 |access-date =6 June 2010}}</ref>

===West Ham United===
[[file:Der Hammer.jpg|Hitzlsperger with West Ham in 2011|thumb|upright]]
Hitzlsperger signed a three-year deal with Premier League club [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in June 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100605/hammers-sign-the-hammer_2236884_2065222|title=Hammers sign The Hammer|publisher=whufc.com|date=9 May 2010|access-date=5 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607042252/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100605/hammers-sign-the-hammer_2236884_2065222|archive-date=7 June 2010}}</ref> but due to an injury did not make his debut for ''the Hammers'' until an [[FA Cup]] fifth round match against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] on 21 February 2011, a game in which he scored in the 23rd minute of a 5–1 win with a "trademark thunderbolt" from 25 yards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9401156.stm|title=West Ham 5–1 Burnley|publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | date = 21 February 2011 | access-date =21 February 2011}}</ref> Hitzlsperger made his league debut for the East London club six days later in a 3–1 win against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at the [[Boleyn Ground]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9404996.stm | title = West Ham 3&nbsp;– 1 Liverpool | date = 27 February 2011 | access-date =27 February 2011 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref> He scored his first league goal for West Ham in the 3–0 home win against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 5 March.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9412199.stm| title = West Ham 3&nbsp;– 0 Stoke| date = 5 March 2011 | access-date =6 March 2011 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref> At the end of the season West Ham were relegated to the [[Football League Championship]] and Hitzlsperger's contract was terminated.<ref name=Loyalty>{{cite web|title=Sam sets out promotion plan|url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110622/sam-sets-out-promotion-plan_2236884_2380269|publisher=whufc.com|access-date=22 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625045930/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110622/sam-sets-out-promotion-plan_2236884_2380269|archive-date=25 June 2011}}</ref>

===Wolfsburg===
On 17 August 2011, Hitzlsperger signed for [[Bundesliga]] club [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] on a three-year deal, after being released by West Ham three months earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17082011/58/bundesliga-wolfsburg-sign-hitzlsperger.html|title=Bundesliga&nbsp;– Wolfsburg sign Hitzlsperger| date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|publisher= Yahoo Sport}}</ref> His contract was terminated at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/info/news/detailspage/artikel/farewell.html | title = Salihamidzic, Chris and Hitzlsperger part company with VfL Wolfsburg | date = 18 May 2012 | access-date =18 May 2012 | work = vfl-wolfsburg.de | publisher = VfL Wolfsburg}}</ref> He played for Stuttgart and Wolfsburg 131 matches in the Bundesliga and scored 20 goals in the German top flight.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/hitzlspergerdata.html | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger&nbsp;— Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 23 September 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>

===Everton===
On 19 October 2012, Hitzlsperger joined [[Premier League]] club [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], after a spell on trial with the club, on a short-term contract until January 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/10/19/hitzlsperger-signs| title = Hitzlsperger Signs | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 19 October 2012 | access-date = 19 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/09/25/hitzlsperger-trains-with-blues | title = Hitzlsperger Trains With Blues | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 25 September 2012 | access-date = 7 October 2012}}</ref> He made his debut for the Toffees coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for [[Nikica Jelavić]] in a 2–1 victory against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] at [[Goodison Park]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Everton 2–1 Sunderland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20190237|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> He made his first Everton start away to [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] on 17 November. On 11 January 2013 he signed an extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/01/11/hitzlsperger-to-stay-with-blues| title = Hitzlsperger To Stay With Blues | publisher = evertonfc.com | date = 11 January 2013 | access-date = 13 January 2013}}</ref> At the end of the [[2012-13 Premier League|season]], he was released along with [[Ján Mucha]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whalley|first1=Mike|title=Hitzlsperger and Mucha leave Everton|url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/everton/story/1469669/hitzlsperger-and-mucha-leave-everton|access-date=16 June 2016|date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

In September 2013, aged 31, Hitzlsperger announced his retirement from football citing the strain of "many transfers and some injuries".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger retires at 31 {{!}} VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/0000268172.jsp|access-date=1 October 2021|website=Bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website|language=en}}</ref> Although he had received offers to resume his playing career, he reported, "I've noticed: I need something else."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.football365.com/everton/8905130/- | title='Der Hammer' hangs up his boots | publisher=www.football365.com | access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Thomas Hitzlsperger.jpg|upright|thumb|right|Hitzlsperger playing for the Germany football team]]

Hitzlsperger captained the [[Germany national under-19 football team|Germany under-19 team]],<ref name="CFC Oct 2001"/> and also appeared for the [[Germany national under-21 football team|national under-21 side]]. He was then called up to the senior side by [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] and made his debut in a 2–0 win against [[Iran national football team|Iran]] in [[Tehran]] on 9 October 2004, replacing [[Bernd Schneider (footballer)|Bernd Schneider]] in the 68th minute.<ref name="Players Info Hitzlsperger">{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?action=search&liga=Nationalmannschaft&id=500397&lang=E&no_cache=1&name=%3BHitzlsperger&gegner= |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Players Info Hitzlsperger |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=[[Deutscher Fußball-Bund]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064418/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?action=search&liga=Nationalmannschaft&id=500397&lang=E&no_cache=1&name=%3BHitzlsperger&gegner= |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat829&lang=E&cHash=110ba9f478 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Iran 0:2 Germany |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064425/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat829&lang=E&cHash=110ba9f478 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref>

He appeared at the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005 Confederations Cup]] and also at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]], where he failed to make it into Klinsmann's starting eleven, playing just 11 minutes in the third-place play-off against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]].<ref name="Euro 2008 profile" /> He scored his first international goals on 6 September 2006 in a [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|European Championship qualifying]] game against [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]]. Hitzlsperger came on as a second-half substitute to score Germany's 9th and 11th goals in a record 13–0 win.<ref name="Players Info Hitzlsperger" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showSchema&lang=E&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat856&cHash=0e42f4d606 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– San Marino 0:13 Germany |access-date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064437/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showSchema&lang=E&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat856&cHash=0e42f4d606 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title = San Marino 0–13 Germany | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5322128.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 6 September 2006 | access-date = 23 April 2008}}</ref>

Germany's coach [[Joachim Löw]] included Hitzlsperger in his squad for the [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008 Euros]], but did not start him in any of the three [[UEFA Euro 2008 Group B|group games]]. Hitzlsperger came on as a second-half substitute in the victories over [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Austria national football team|Austria]], but did not feature at all in the surprise defeat to [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat882&lang=E&cHash=eb89f10a39 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Germany 2:0 Poland |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064751/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat882&lang=E&cHash=eb89f10a39 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat883&lang=E&cHash=d0af1140f9 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Croatia 2:1 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064758/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat883&lang=E&cHash=d0af1140f9 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat884&lang=E&cHash=7315d37455 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Austria 0:1 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064835/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat884&lang=E&cHash=7315d37455 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref> In the knockout stages however, he started in all three matches, helping his team to defeat Portugal in the quarter-final and setting up [[Philipp Lahm]] for a 90th-minute winner against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] in the semi-final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat901&lang=E&cHash=d4de3a9755 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Portugal 2:3 Germany |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064853/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat901&lang=E&cHash=d4de3a9755 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date = 25 June 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363524.stm | title = Germany 3–2 Turkey | access-date =13 July 2008 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref> Germany were defeated 1–0 by [[Spain national football team|Spain]] in the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Final|final]], in which Hitzlsperger was substituted in the second half.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat904&lang=E&cHash=cd640c5b90 |title=Statistics&nbsp;– Germany 0:1 Spain |access-date=13 July 2008 |publisher=Deutscher Fußball-Bund |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064939/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500395&action=showSchema&liga=Nationalmannschaft&matchid=dfbat904&lang=E&cHash=cd640c5b90 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref>

Hitzlsperger remained first-choice in [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 World Cup qualifying]], playing in all but one match and scoring a goal,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showPlayer&full=2&liga=Nationalmannschaft&vorname=&nachname=Hitzlsperger&cHash=9865cfe3b6 |title=DFB&nbsp;– Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V.&nbsp;– All Players from A-Z |publisher=Dfb.de |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608045116/https://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500397&action=showPlayer&full=2&liga=Nationalmannschaft&vorname=&nachname=Hitzlsperger&cHash=9865cfe3b6 |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref> but he missed out on his nation's [[2010 FIFA World Cup squads#Germany|World Cup squad]] in June 2010. His international career ended on 11 August 2010 with his 52nd cap.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/hitzlsperger-intl.html | title = Thomas Hitzlsperger&nbsp;— Goals in International Matches | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 23 September 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>

==VfB Stuttgart management==
On 12 February 2019, Hitzlsperger became Head of Sport of [[VfB Stuttgart]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger replaces Michael Reschke|url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2019/abberufung-michael-reschke/|access-date=12 February 2019|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=12 February 2019}}</ref> He was promoted to CEO and resigned in January 2022 to return to his television career.

==Personal life==

Hitzlsperger, the youngest child of Ludwig and Anneliese Hitzlsperger, was born in [[Munich]] and grew up in [[Forstinning]], alongside his five brothers and one sister.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Nursey | first = James | title = Hitz over&nbsp;– but Thomas won't forget Villa spell | url = http://www.birminghampost.net/src/webroot/birminghampost/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/2005/04/30/hitz-over-but-thomas-won-t-forget-villa-spell-50002-15461026/ | work = [[Birmingham Post]] | date = 30 April 2005 | access-date = 21 April 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521221905/http://www.birminghampost.net/src/webroot/birminghampost/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/2005/04/30/hitz-over-but-thomas-won-t-forget-villa-spell-50002-15461026/ | archive-date = 21 May 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 2005 |title=Kontrastprogramm zu München |trans-title=Contrast program to Munich |url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,344455,00.html |access-date=21 April 2008 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |language=de}}</ref> Hitzlsperger  has an interest in economics, and while in England studied investment strategies, although he did not complete the course.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Honigstein |first=Raphael |date=2007-12-14 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/dec/14/smalltalk.sportinterviews |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He regularly visited the [[Bank of England]] to discuss finance with the bank's governor, [[Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury|Mervyn King]], a lifelong Aston Villa fan.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Chittenden | first = Maurice  | title = Bank governor's secret sessions kept German player on the ball | url = https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/bank-governors-secret-sessions-kept-german-player-on-the-ball-09zp99dfb0j | work = [[The Times]] | date = 16 April 2006 | access-date = 17 June 2022}}</ref> Hitzlsperger has [[blog]]ged for ''Störungsmelder'', an anti-racism site that encourages debate about [[xenophobia]] and racism in Germany.<ref name=":0" /> In June 2007, Hitzlsperger ended his eight-year relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Inga, just one month before they were due to get married.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 June 2007 |title=Ein Monat vor Hochzeit: Liebes-Aus! |trans-title=One month before wedding: Love over! |url=http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/gesellschaft/leute/446390/Ein-Monat-vor-Hochzeit-Liebes-Aus.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913162127/http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/gesellschaft/leute/446390/Ein-Monat-vor-Hochzeit-Liebes-Aus.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |access-date=23 April 2008 |work=[[Rheinische Post]] |language=de}}</ref> On 8 January 2014, a few months after retiring, he became the highest-profile male footballer to [[coming out|come out]] as [[gay]] at the time.<ref name="BBCgay">{{cite news|title=Thomas Hitzlsperger: Former Aston Villa player reveals he is gay|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25628806|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=BBC Sports|date=8 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 January 2014 |title=Hitzlsperger: "Ich äußere mich zu meiner Homosexualität" |trans-title=Hitzlsperger: "I am coming out about my homosexuality." |url=https://www.kicker.de/hitzlsperger_ich-aeussere-mich-zu-meiner-homosexualitaet-597514/artikel |access-date=8 January 2014 |newspaper=kicker |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-08 |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger becomes first high-profile gay footballer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/08/sport/football/thomas-hitzlsperger-germany-gay-football |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> (In 2023, Czech [[Jakub Jankto]] became the first ''active'' male national footballer to come out as gay.) Hitzlsperger said that he had only realised that he was gay in the past few years.<ref name="BBCgay" /> He received widespread support from former fellow players of the Germany national team, such as [[Lukas Podolski]], who said of his coming out as "brave" and "an important sign of our time" as well as a reaction from [[Joachim Löw]] who said of his decision as "personal" and that he "deserved respect from every side."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holden |first1=Kit |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger gay: The reaction in Germany after former Aston Villa player comes out |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-the-reaction-in-germany-after-former-aston-villa-player-comes-out-9047034.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/thomas-hitzlsperger-gay-the-reaction-in-germany-after-former-aston-villa-player-comes-out-9047034.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-status=live |work=[[The Independent]] |date=8 January 2014|url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2022, Hitzlsperger told [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], that a "collective [[coming out]]" of gay footballers could be a solution to their problems of hiding their sexuality. Hitzlsperger took the example of 125 Catholic priests in Germany who decided to come out at once.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Daniel |title=Collective coming out could be solution for gay footballers, says Thomas Hitzelsperger |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/01/collective-coming-out-could-be-solution-for-gay-footballers-says-thomas-hitzelsperger-16027261/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=1 February 2022}}</ref> In January 2024, Hitzlsperger was named by Aston Villa as a member of the ''Honorary Anniversary Board'' ahead of the club's 150th anniversary season.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-25 |title=AV 150: Honorary Board Announced |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/25/av-150--honorary-board-announced/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}</ref> In March 2024, Hitzlsperger presented his autobiography, where he speaks about his coming-out and LGBTQ+ activism.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ketterer |first1=Frank |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger über sein Coming-out: „Es gab kein Zurück mehr“ |trans-title=Thomas Hitzlsperger on his coming-out: "There was no turning back"|url=https://bnn.de/mittelbaden/baden-baden/thomas-hitzlsperger-ueber-sein-coming-out-es-gab-kein-zurueck-mehr|access-date=9 November 2024 |work=[[Badische Neueste Nachrichten]] |url-access=subscription|date=8 November 2024|language=de}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" Style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Appearances in the [[FA Cup]] and [[DFB-Pokal]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Appearances in the [[EFL Cup|English League Cup]] and [[DFL-Ligapokal|German League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
!rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]||[[2000–01 Aston Villa F.C. season|2000–01]]||[[Premier League]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2001–02 Aston Villa F.C. season|2001–02]]||Premier League
|12||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||1
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2002–03 Aston Villa F.C. season|2002–03]]||Premier League
|26||2||0||0||3||2||4{{efn|Appearances in the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||33||4
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2003–04 Aston Villa F.C. season|2003–04]]||Premier League
|32||3||1||0||5||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||5
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2004–05 Aston Villa F.C. season|2004–05]]||Premier League
|28||2||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||2
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!99!!8!!1!!0!!10!!4!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!114!!12!!—
|-
|[[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] (loan)||[[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]]||[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in the [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]]}}||0||6||0
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=21492&season_id=131 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm Limited |access-date=3 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[VfB Stuttgart]]||[[2005–06 VfB Stuttgart season|2005–06]]||[[Bundesliga]]
|26||2||2||1||3||1||7{{efn|name=UEFA Cup|Appearances in the [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||38||4
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2006–07 VfB Stuttgart season|2006–07]]||Bundesliga
|30||7||5||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||10
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2006-07/vfb-stuttgart |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}}</ref>
|-
|[[2007–08 VfB Stuttgart season|2007–08]]||Bundesliga
|25||5||4||2||1||0||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in the [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||7
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[2008–09 VfB Stuttgart season|2008–09]]||Bundesliga
|32||5||3||0||colspan="2"|—||10{{efn|name=UEFA Cup}}||2||colspan="2"|—||45||7
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2008-09/vfb-stuttgart |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}}</ref>
|-
|[[2009–10 VfB Stuttgart season|2009–10]]||Bundesliga
|12||1||3||1||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||22||2
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!125!!20!!17!!7!!4!!1!!26!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!172!!30!!—
|-
|[[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]]||[[2009–10 S.S. Lazio season|2009–10]]||[[Serie A]]
|6||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||1
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]||[[2010–11 West Ham United F.C. season|2010–11]]||Premier League
|11||2||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||3
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
|[[VfL Wolfsburg]]||[[2011–12 VfL Wolfsburg season|2011–12]]||Bundesliga
|6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Hitzlsperger Thomas |url=https://www.kicker.de/thomas-hitzlsperger/spieler/bundesliga/2011-12/vfl-wolfsburg |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=Olympia Verlag |access-date=3 February 2021 |language=German}}</ref>
|-
|[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]||[[2012–13 Everton F.C. season|2012–13]]||Premier League
|7||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||0
|<ref name="Thomas Hitzlsperger — World Football"/>
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total!!259!!31!!22!!8!!14!!5!!30!!2!!1!!0!!326!!46!!—
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="NFT">{{cite web |last1=Strack-Zimmermann |first1=Benjamin |title=Thomas Hitzlsperger |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8656/Thomas_Hitzlsperger.html |website=National Football Teams |language=en}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Germany national football team|Germany]]
|2004||2||0
|-
|2005||11||0
|-
|2006||7||2
|-
|2007||10||2
|-
|2008||13||2
|-
|2009||8||0
|-
|2010||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!52!!6
|}

:''Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hitzlsperger goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Thomas Hitzlsperger<ref name="NFT"/>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || rowspan="2"|6 September 2006 || rowspan="2"|[[Stadio Olimpico (San Marino)|Stadio Olimpico]], [[Serravalle (San Marino)|Serravalle]], San Marino || rowspan="2"|{{fb|San Marino}} || align="center"|9–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|13–0 || rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || align="center"|11–0
|-
| align="center"|3 || 6 June 2007 || [[AOL Arena]], [[Hamburg]], Germany || {{fb|Slovakia}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|4 || 17 November 2007 || [[Allianz Arena]], [[Munich]], Germany || {{fb|Cyprus}} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|4–0 || UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|5 || 6 February 2008 || [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion]], [[Vienna]], Austria || {{fb|Austria}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || 6 September 2008 || [[Rheinpark Stadion]], [[Vaduz]], Liechtenstein || {{fb|Liechtenstein}} || align="center"|5–0 || align="center"|6–0 || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying]]
|}

==Honours==
'''VfB Stuttgart'''
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[2006–07 Bundesliga|2006–07]]
* [[DFB-Pokal]] runner-up: [[2006–07 DFB-Pokal|2006–07]]

'''Germany'''
*[[UEFA European Championship]] runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008]]
*[[FIFA World Cup]] third place: [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]
*[[FIFA Confederations Cup]] third place: [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]]

'''Individual'''
*''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' [[Bundesliga]] Team of the Season: 2006–07<ref>{{cite web |title=Bundesliga Historie 2006/07 |trans-title=Bundesliga History 2006/07 |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212356/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref>
* [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Federal Cross of Merit]] (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordensverleihung "Vereint und füreinander da" |trans-title=Award Ceremony "United and There for Each Other" |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/2020/10/201001-Verdienstorden-TdDE.html?nn=2236336 |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=bundespraesident.de |language=de}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{Fussballdaten|hitzlspergerthomas}}
* {{WorldFootball.net|thomas-hitzlsperger}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080604013650/http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/thomas-hitzlsperger Blog at Störungsmelder]

{{2006–07 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Germany squads
| bg = white
| fg = black
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Germany squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitzlsperger, Thomas}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chesterfield F.C. players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:SS Lazio players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:VfL Wolfsburg players]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Munich]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:German LGBTQ footballers]]
[[Category:German gay sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century German LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century German LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:21st-century German sportsmen]]
[[Category:German autobiographers]]
[[Category:Association football executives]]
[[Category:German sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Hellas Verona FC non-playing staff]]