Germany’s National Team Goalkeeper Honors Christian Dobrick’s Coming Out

The German national-team goalkeeper Oliver Baumann praised St. Pauli’s U19 coach Christian Dobrick for coming out: “I find it very brave. I think he deserves a lot of respect for this,” said the 35-year-old TSG Hoffenheim keeper in an interview with RTL/ntv and Stern. “And then it’s like, I think he simply has to feel comfortable in his environment and be allowed to feel comfortable, so that this should be respected, I think.”

When asked whether there is a problem with coming-outs in men’s soccer, Baumann replied: “I don’t know if it’s professional football that’s the issue, so whether that’s the reason. As I’ve said, I think you should be allowed to feel comfortable with who you are. And then, personally, I don’t care whether that happens in pro football or not.” For a footballer, important values are one’s character, one’s professionalism, and how one behaves as a person.

Dobrick had come out as gay on Tuesday in an interview with RTL/ntv (TheColu.mn reported). He complained that in professional football gays are “still regarded as aliens” and that there is pressure to “live a heteronormative life.” His conclusion: “Fewer gay footballers reach the top because they have to waste energy on problems that have nothing to do with the sport.” The 29-year-old has been working in St. Pauli’s youth system since the summer of 2025; previously he worked for Red Bull Salzburg, TSG Hoffenheim, and Holstein Kiel.

Urban: Advisors Are to Blame

The openly gay former youth national team player Marcus Urban explained to WDR the reasons behind the closet among many gay Bundesliga pros: “The people around you are afraid — for you, for your health, that your reputation could be damaged, that you might not be marketable anymore, because they themselves profit from it to some extent. So they advise players, ‘Better not do it.’ I think that’s wrong.”

On his Instagram page, Dobrick commented on his coming out with the words: “The same coach as yesterday. Just a little lighter.” He also thanked his club for listening; now he must focus on something else: “Now full focus on the weekend against Dresden.”

In many comments, his step was praised. “Thanks for your courage. Maybe more players will dare to be true to themselves because of you,” wrote one user. But there were also warnings about possible consequences: “I’m curious what happens when the next game arrives. In the locker room… parents… opponents. We’ll see if this was a good decision. I’m rooting for him,” read one of the comments. (dk)