NBC NEWS: English soccer player Jake Daniels said he is gay on Monday in a trailblazing moment for the European men's game. (At Left: Jake Daniels handling the soccer ball.)

The 17-year-old forward made the announcement at the end of his first season as a professional player with second division club Blackpool.

"This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch," he said in a statement. "But off the pitch I've been hiding the real me and who I really am. I've known my whole life that I'm gay, and I now feel that I'm ready to come out and be myself. It's a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality."

Daniels said teammates at Blackpool embraced his sexuality after confiding in them. The northwest English club said it was 'incredibly proud that he has reached a stage where he is empowered to express himself both on and off the pitch." (To read the full article, Click Here.)