Across the entire world, there are just two current openly gay top-flight male professional footballers. Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo came out last October, and his courage has since been matched by Sparta Prague midfielder Jakub Jankto.
Former Udinese and Sampdoria midfielder Jakub Jankto has come out as gay, in what could be a big turning point for so many in men’s football who feel the need to hide a big part of themselves. 👏💙
Well done, Jakub.
— Total Italian Football (@SerieATotal) February 13, 2023
Jankto took to Twitter to say he “no longer wants to hide”. “Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love,” he added.
The 27-year-old’s revelation could prove to be a significant moment in the sport that transcends far beyond what actually happens on the pitch. Nevertheless, Jankto has enjoyed a fine career up until this point and here’s everything you need to know about the courageous Sparta Prague midfielder.
Jankto is currently plying his trade with Sparta Prague after joining the Czech club on loan from Getafe ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The 27-year-old has made ten appearances this term, scoring once.
Before joining Getafe in 2021, Jankto had spent the entirity of his senior career in Italy. He joined Udinese as a teenager in 2014 before debutising for the Zebrette a year later. He enjoyed loan spells at Ascoli and Sampdoria before eventually joining the latter on a permanent basis in 2019.
Jankto played 69 times for Udinese and 97 times for Samp.
Jankto is an incredibly versatile midfielder. According to transfermarkt.com, the 27-year-old has played nine different positions in his senior career, including left back and centre forward.
Much of his work, though, has come in central midfield. However, Jankto operated as a hard-working wide man during his sole season at Getafe and has continued to function out wide during his loan spell at Sparta Prague.
Jankto has represented the Czech Republic from Under-17s all the way through to the senior side.
He’s earned 45 caps for his country since 2017, scoring four times. Jankto was also a part of Czech Republic’s Euro 2020 squad which reached the quarter-finals. He started their three group games and made substitute appearances in the two knockout ties.
