Stephen Laybutt, the former Australia international soccer player who publicly came out as gay after retiring from the sport, has tragically passed away at the age of 46. Police in New South Wales have confirmed that Laybutt’s body was found on a beach in the north of the state on Sunday. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Laybutt was last seen in the nearby town of Casuarina on Friday evening. After he was reported missing, an extensive search was conducted.
The news of Laybutt’s passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from the football community. Football Australia, the players union Professional Footballers Australia, as well as Laybutt’s former clubs Feyenoord and KAA Gent, have all posted messages of condolences. The Socceroos, the Australian national team, tweeted, “Everyone at Football Australia and the Socceroos are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Socceroo cap no. 444, Stephen Laybutt. VALE.”
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Laybutt had largely been out of the public eye until 2021 when his remarkable story of donating one of his kidneys to a dialysis patient was reported. At the time, he was working in the rehabilitation unit at a private hospital. In an article by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Andrew Webster, Laybutt also opened up about the struggles he faced regarding his sexuality during his playing career.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson paid tribute to Laybutt, saying, “We remember Stephen not just for his accomplishments on the field but also for his character and the positive influence he had on those around him. He will forever be remembered as part of the Socceroos family and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Laybutt began his professional career at Wollongong Wolves before moving on to the Brisbane Strikers. He also had a brief spell in Japan before joining Parramatta Power. He represented Australia in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 as part of the Olyroos squad. Laybutt played as a centre-back and had stints in both Europe and Australia throughout his career, with Excelsior Mouscron and Gent being his notable clubs. Injuries eventually led to his retirement from professional soccer in 2008.
In a candid interview in 2021, Laybutt revealed that he had hidden his sexuality during his playing days. He explained the internal struggles he faced and the self-destructive path he went down after retiring. However, in 2010, Laybutt met his partner and began working at St Vincent’s Private Hospital. It was there that he decided to donate one of his kidneys to a patient named Ian Pavey, whom he had grown close to during their rehabilitation sessions.
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The transplant operation in October 2021 was successful, and Laybutt’s story became headline news in Australia. His journey was seen as a triumph of compassion and helping others. Laybutt’s bravery in sharing his story also resonated with the recent coming out of Josh Cavallo, the first active A-League men’s player to publicly announce his homosexuality.
Stephen Laybutt’s passing is a loss not only to the soccer community but to the world. His courage, both on and off the field, will be remembered and celebrated. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time..
