[<a href="//storify.com/jeremiahoshan/robbie-rogers" mce_href="//storify.com/jeremiahoshan/robbie-rogers" target="_blank">View the story "Pro soccer world shows support for Robbie Rogers" on Storify</a>]<h1>Pro soccer world shows support for Robbie Rogers</h1><h2>The decision to come out of the closet was clearly a very tough one for Robbie Rogers. The overwhelming support he received from ex-teammates and others had to lift his spirits, though.</h2><p>Storified by <a href="http://storify.com/jeremiahoshan" mce_href="http://storify.com/jeremiahoshan">Jeremiah Oshan</a>&middot; Fri, Feb 15 2013 16:52:26</p><div>It all started with a seemingly innocuous tweet...</div><div>http://www.therobbierogers.com/ Just getting some sh*t off my chest. http://fb.me/2G6VcA57vRobbie Rogers</div><div>that linked to this story:</div><div>robbierogers8The Next Chapter... Things are never what they seem... My whole life I have felt different, different from my peers, even different from ...</div><div>From there, a rather remarkable number of people involved in professional soccer vocally shared their support. It included many voices from around MLS:</div><div>My dude @robbierogers much love and respect. Very proud to be your friend. Roomies/brothers for life.… http://instagr.am/p/VxBu0EM5FT/Brad Evans</div><div>The courage @robbierogers has shown coming out is of the class most men can only dream of. I was lucky to call him a teammate.Colin Clark</div><div>I hope his bravery helps pave a path for others to know they don't need to hideColin Clark</div><div>So much love and respect for my fellow Terp and friend @robbierogers hope to see you on the pitch again soon!Marc Burch</div><div>@robbierogers good for you man! All the best! TerpsAJ DeLaGarza</div><div>I hope that one day there are no announcements necessary anymore and homosexuality is accepted in sports and everywhere else #respectMichael Gspurning</div><div>@robbierogers proud to call you my friend. #respectBenny Feilhaber</div><div>@robbierogers Good for you brother. #respectDax McCarty</div><div>The bravery of Robbie Rogers in commendable, I hope he realizes that he doesn't need to retire. He will be more supported than he knows.Kasey Keller</div><div>One of his former teammates had some particularly insightful comments:</div><div>Iro: Rogers 'didnt want to continue a lie'By: Shawn Mitchell Former Crew defender Andy Iro remains a close friend of Robbie Rogers, who made public his identity as a gay man and a...</div><div>Of particular note: the coach of the Chicago Fire, who now have his MLS rights, would welcome him onto the team:</div><div>Klopas on Rogers: &quot;We would still be open to him being part of the Fire&quot;CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Earlier Friday, midfielder Robbie Rogers announced on his website that he was stepping away from the game of soccer, ...</div><div>It also drew attention from his fellow United States national teamers:</div><div>Much love and respect to my boy @robbierogers ! Proud to be your friend broStuart Holden</div><div>@robbierogers Brave men like you will make it so that one day there's no need for an announcement.That day can't arrive soon enough.#SupportEddie Pope</div><div>100 percent love and support for one of my best friends Robbie Rogers. You will be missed on the pitch. Amazing talent, amazing person.Sacha Kljestan</div><div>Hey @robbierogers, you are the shit. That is all.Jimmy Conrad</div><div>But it didn't stop there. In a somewhat more surprising development, support also was easily found in England, especially from his former teammates at Leeds United.</div><div>Big respect goes out to @robbierogersDom Poleon</div><div>Full respect to @robbierogers and good luck in the next chapter of your life whatever you choose to do.Adam Drury</div><div>A lot of respect for @robbierogers Good luck in what ever you choose to do next mate. All the bestZac Thompson</div><div>@robbierogers coming out just shows there's more gay players than we think I didn't have one indication he was gay #respectbroRobert snodgrass</div><div>Can I just say well done to @robbierogers .Takes enormous amounts of courage to do what he's done. Fair play.Joseph Barton</div><div>Wow... Fair play to @robbierogers for coming out. Must of took great courage!!! Take care mate and stay strong!Ross McCormack</div><div>Massive respect for @robbierogers shown great courage. Good luck bro.Aidan White</div><div>Some support also came from rather high places, including the Football Association and the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association and U.S. Soccer</div><div>The FA has offered its support to former Leeds winger Robbie Rogers after he announced he is gay http://bit.ly/Ydop0mThe FA</div><div>Interestingly, Carlisle had previously been vocally supportive of something like this</div><div>Clarke Carlisle: First UK gay footballer can expect a 'commercial windfall'Clarke Carlisle, the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), has told Inside Sport that the first English footballer...</div><div>Statement on @RobbieRogers: "As a Federation we support all our athletes who have had the courage to address this deeply personal topic.&quot;U.S. Soccer</div><div>.@ussoccer statement contd: &quot;We are proud of Robbie. He has been an outstanding representative of our National Team program for many years.&quot;U.S. Soccer</div><div>&quot;...We support him and wish him great success in the future.&quot;U.S. Soccer</div>
