Marco Reus, the Borussia Dortmund legend, will be playing his final game for the club in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. Reus has had an illustrious career, but has faced his fair share of heartache along the way. Despite this, he is revered as a living legend in Dortmund, thanks to his connection with the club, the fans, and the city.
Reus announced earlier this month that he would be leaving Dortmund at the end of the season after 12 years with the club. His departure was marked by a resounding reception from fans during his final home game, where he scored his 170th goal for the club and treated the fans to a free beer. Reus has been adored by the fans for his loyalty and commitment to the club.
Although Reus has won two DFB-Pokals and three German Supercups with Dortmund, he has never won the Bundesliga or the Champions League. Dortmund has finished second to Bayern Munich in seven of Reus’ 12 seasons with the club. The 2018-19 and 2022-23 seasons came down to the final day, but Dortmund narrowly missed out on the title. The 2013 Champions League final was another heartbreaking moment for Reus as Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich.
Reus’ international career has also been plagued by bad luck. He was a key player in Germany’s Euro 2012 squad but suffered an ankle injury just before the 2014 World Cup. He missed Euro 2016 due to a groin problem and was left out of the delayed Euro 2020 squad. Injuries also ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup. However, he did score a goal in the 2018 World Cup against Sweden.
Off the field, Reus is known for his charitable work and generosity. He regularly visits children in hospitals, donates the profits from his clothing brand to charity, and gave €500,000 to local small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is married to Scarlett Gartmann, a supermodel and YouTuber, and they have two children together.
Reus has a passion for tattoos and has several inkings on his body, including the initials of his family members and a quote from Oprah Winfrey. He also had dreams of becoming a pilot before pursuing a career in football. Reus idolized Tomas Rosicky, a Czech midfielder who played for Dortmund and Arsenal, and tried to emulate his style of play.
Despite the disappointments and setbacks in his career, Reus remains a beloved figure in Dortmund and has left an indelible mark on the club. As he prepares to play his final game, he will be hoping to secure the most significant trophy of his career and finally lift the Champions League trophy. The fans will be cheering him on, grateful for all he has done for the club and the city.