Former A-League player Andy Brennan first Aussie footballer to come out as gay

Former Newcastle Jets A-League player Andy Brennan has become the first Australian footballer to come out as gay.

Brennan, 26, is now playing with Melbourne NPL club Green Gully. He said he was "scared" of how he would be perceived should he come out, but now felt great relief.

He announced his sexuality in a touching Instagram post. In doing so, he became the first Aussie soccer player to come out.

Rugby league star Ian Roberts was the first Aussie player from any football code to announce that he was gay, back in 1994.

Brennan expanded on his decision in an interview with the Herald Sun, saying he'd finally come to grips with his sexuality last November.

“Six months ago I thought about it a lot, tried to hide it and push it aside because of the way I thought it would be perceived by many,’’ Brennan said.

“You’ve got to go through stages to understand that you can’t keep living this, I suppose, lie to yourself that one day you’re going to be happy if you want a family.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t waste any more time being in relationships that I wasn’t comfortable in and wouldn’t come to anything.

“You’ve got to realise that’s who you are and you’ve just gotta be who you are, whether you’re gay or whatever, whoever you are."