Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus announced yesterday, Friday, his departure from the club at the end of the current season after they reached an agreement not to extend his contract, after 12 years he spent with the team.
The 34-year-old, who joined the club in 2012 and spent a decade in Dortmund as a youth player, scored 168 goals in 424 matches while making 128. He was also famous for his skill, ability to score goals, and his intelligent way of playing, and wore the team’s captaincy for five years until 2023.
“Bad Luck” by Marco Reus
Reus won two German Cup titles, but did not win any other major titles, and painfully lost his first German League title last season in the final round. Dortmund currently occupies fifth place in the German League with three matches remaining in the season.
He can still crown his final season with the biggest club title in Europe, with Dortmund reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg this week.
Reus was part of the Dortmund squad that lost the 2013 Champions League final to Bayern Munich 1-2. The team travels to France on Tuesday to play the return match, hoping to reach the final.
Marco Reus “the most important players”
Reus said in a video clip: “The club and I decided not to extend the contract. I spent more than half my life at this club. I am proud and happy that I played for many years here. I do not have the words to express it. He added: “It is important that we inform you, the fans, first of all, And because we still have a big goal. We want to go to Wembley (for the final) and bring the cup back to Dortmund.”
Reus, who won the German Player of the Year award twice, is considered one of the best attacking talents of his generation, but an injury prevented him from participating in the World Cup in 2014 when his country won the title. He played 48 matches with “Die Mannschaft” and scored 15 goals.
Media reports stated that Royce rejected many offers from major clubs during his career in order to stay in Dortmund.
A statement issued by the club said: “It is the end of an extraordinary era,” and the club’s general manager, Hans-Joachim Watzke, praised Reuss, describing him as “one of the club’s greatest players,” wishing him “all the best in his future.”
He added: “We very much hope that he will return to Dortmund after his professional career, because there are many exciting tasks awaiting him here in Dortmund.”
