Marco Reus’s football journey has been filled with heart-wrenching disappointments, both at the club and national levels, highlighting the unfairness that often accompanies the beautiful game.
Born in Dortmund, Reus’s deep connection to Borussia Dortmund began at a young age. He honed his skills at the PSTV academy before joining the Borussia Dortmund youth school at the age of 6. After spending a decade in the academy, he moved to Rot Weiss Ahlen, where he gained valuable experience with the senior team. In 2009, Reus signed with Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he became a star player, scoring 41 goals in 109 matches over three seasons.
In 2012, Reus returned to Borussia Dortmund, but his homecoming coincided with the departure of his childhood friend, Mario Götze, to Bayern Munich. This marked the beginning of a long championship streak dominated by Bayern Munich, preventing Reus and Dortmund from claiming the Bundesliga title for the next 11 seasons.
Despite these setbacks, Reus achieved personal milestones, becoming the second-highest goal scorer in Borussia Dortmund’s history with 161 goals and the club’s leading assist provider with 121 assists. He received individual accolades, including being named the best German player and the best player in the Bundesliga.
However, his misfortunes extended beyond the club level to the national team. In 2014, Reus suffered a foot injury just before the World Cup, forcing him to miss the tournament. Although Germany went on to win the World Cup, Reus had to watch from the sidelines.
Reus faced further disappointment in the subsequent years. Injuries prevented him from participating in the European Championship in 2016 and limited Germany’s success in the 2018 World Cup, where they failed to advance past the group stage.
His quest for Bundesliga glory with Borussia Dortmund came close in 2023 when the team bridged a 9-point gap with Bayern Munich. However, a critical error by the Dortmund coach in the final round prevented them from clinching the title, leaving Reus once again empty-handed. Despite this, he renewed his commitment to the club, signing a new contract.
Throughout his career, Reus turned down lucrative offers from top clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, choosing loyalty to Borussia Dortmund and the pursuit of success with his beloved team.
The parallels with another German footballer, Michael Ballack, are striking. Ballack also experienced a string of disappointments, missing out on major trophies and witnessing his teams fall short in crucial matches.
Despite the setbacks, Reus’s determination and unwavering loyalty to Borussia Dortmund have made him a revered figure. Fate may have denied him certain achievements, but his impact on the game and the admiration he has earned will endure for years to come.
