Spain’s first trans pro footballer talks the importance of taking the first step
A post shared by Alba Palacios (@albichepalacios)Footballer Alba Palacios made history and headlines in 2018 when she became the Spanish football federation’s first transgender player.
Now, nearly four years later, the athlete has opened up about her journey so far—including her regret over staying in the closet so long, but also her gratitude that she came out at all.In her recent ESPN Deportes interview, Palacios gave an update on her personal life, saying that everything “turned out well” with her friends, teammates, and fans.Related: This hunky trans male swimmer is blowing conservative lies about athletes out of the waterIt was a different story with her family, though—especially her parents, for whom “acceptance was hard,” as she said. “In the end, it’s something they don’t understand when you’ve been with your son for 31 years, in this case, and he tells you this.
I have always liked girls, cars, football. It’s something very complicated for parents to take on. … My mom struggled because I was the only son at home.
It’s complicated.”Now, happily, Palacios are her mother are “super good,” the footballer says. “She comes to see me play and is super proud of me.
