Robbie Rogers made his Major League Soccer debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. After coming out as gay in February, Rogers is ready to move on with his career, the Seattle Times reports.
Rogers played in his first soccer match since openly coming out as gay earlier this year. He came in as a substitute and helped the Galaxy to a 4-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.
The crowd of 24,811 cheered for Rogers and chanted his name when he subbed onto the field.
"I guess this is a historic thing, but for me it was just a soccer game," Rogers told reporters after the game. "... No pressure at all coming in. I got to totally enjoy myself and take it all in."
Rogers announced he was gay in February after he retired from soccer at the age of 25. He originally retired to avoid the media frenzy that would have followed if he continued to play, according to USA Today.
"I wouldn't want to deal with the circus. Are people coming to see you because you're gay? Would I want to do interviews every day, where people are asking: 'So you're taking showers with guys — how's that?'"
He signed with the Galaxy on May 1, shortly after NBA player Jason Collins came out.
Collins and Rogers are now the only two openly gay athletes playing for major U.S. sports teams. Collins, who came out in an April, played last season for the Washington Wizards.
"Secrets can cause so much internal damage," Rogers wrote in February on his blog. "People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay."
