Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou says he hopes gay Australian footballers would feel comfortable disclosing their sexuality if they wanted to.
"What you want - in any form of life - particularly in our country, is that people feel comfortable to express themselves in any way they want to," said Postecoglou on Thursday.
"If there is somebody that feels comfortable enough to do that - I don't think as a society we're closed-minded about these things.
"From our perspective, it's about creating an environment that in our sport, in our nation, that allows people to feel comfortable in that space."
Postecoglou was commenting after retired German international Thomas Hitzlsperger came out, announcing he is gay.
"I am declaring my homosexuality because I want the question of homosexuality in the world of professional sport to be out in the open," said 31-year-old Hitzlsperger, who was capped 52 times by Germany between 2004 and 2010.
His statement came after he hung up his boots at the end of last season, having plied his trade in Germany, England and Italy with Aston Villa, Everton, Wolfsburg and Lazio among others.
Hitzlsperger said he had decided to come out because it was a good time for him and because he wanted to promote the discussion of homosexuality in professional sport.
"I've never been ashamed of the way I am," he added, although it had not always been easy to cope with some of the comments dished out.
"In England, Germany or Italy, homosexuality is not taken seriously as an issue, at least not in the dressing room."
His disclosure was met with strong support from the football community, including former teammates and clubs.
Arsenal and German forward Lucas Podolski called Hitzlsperger's announcement, made in German magazine Die Zeit, "an important sign of our time".
Ex-England captain Gary Lineker tweeted "Congratulations to Thomas Hitzlsperger on bravely being the first player to have played in the PL to 'come out'" while former club Aston Villa also gave their support.
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