From Football Star to Psychology Student: Andy Brennan’s Game-Changing Journey
Andy Brennan, a pro soccer player in Australia, is making waves both on and off the field. As reported by Outsports, Brennan is not just kicking goals for South Melbourne. He’s also pursuing a psychology degree to help others thrive.
“I couldn’t handle living the way I was”
In 2019, Brennan came out as gay. He was the first male soccer player in Australia to do so. At the time, he felt he might have to quit the sport. “I got to a point where I couldn’t handle living the way I was and moving forward in the sport,” he says.
But Brennan didn’t quit. Instead, he found freedom in being open about who he is. Now, he’s playing some of his best soccer ever.
“You can enjoy your sport so much more”
Brennan’s journey led him to study psychology. He wants to understand why so few male pro soccer players come out. Out of nearly 130,000 pro male players worldwide, only five are openly gay or bisexual.
“It was through my experiences in football and feeling as though I didn’t quite belong that made me want to do psychology,” Brennan explains. He believes it’s key to making people feel included.
His studies have helped his game too. “I was constantly second-guessing myself,” he admits. Now, he takes feedback better and enjoys playing more.
“Are people judging me here?”
Brennan’s openness has brought new experiences. He rarely hears homophobic comments now. He wonders if locker room culture has changed or if people are just more careful around him.
He’s also thinking about dating more openly. At a recent awards night, he felt he could bring a boyfriend. “I’m not dating anyone at the moment, so if anyone is listening out there…” he jokes.
But he’s honest about his lingering concerns. “I would do it, but I still feel I’d have some discomfort. Those thoughts would pop into my head — are people judging me here?”
He wants to see more done to stop anti-LGBTQIA+ language in sports. He believes education is key, especially in grassroots clubs. “Let’s get that changed so that players coming through aren’t speaking this way,” he says.
Through soccer and psychology, Brennan is showing that being true to yourself leads to happiness. And maybe even to cup finals.
