Borussia Dortmund‘s loyal servant Marco Reus will bring down the curtain on his 12-year association with the club when the season concludes, the club confirmed on Friday.
Marco Reus and Borussia Dortmund have mutually agreed to part ways, with his contract set to expire. While the 34-year-old has no plans to hang up his boots, he’ll be seeking a new adventure as he continues his playing career.
“The club and I came to the decision not to extend the contract. It made me incredibly proud, I’m incredibly grateful to have played for this club for so many years.”
Marco Reus, a product of Dortmund’s youth system, returned to the club after breaking through at Borussia Moenchengladbach. His time at Dortmund was marked by two German Cup triumphs, though the Bundesliga championship remained an unclaimed prize.
Last season, Marco Reus and Borussia Dortmund came agonizingly close to ending Bayern Munich’s dominance, leading the table on the final day. However, a 2-2 draw against Mainz allowed Bayern to snatch the title, extending their reign to 11 consecutive seasons.
Though Bayer Leverkusen’s win means Marco Reus will not win the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund, the team is close to winning the Champions League, which would be a fitting end to Reus’ time with the club.
Reus came off the bench in a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s first semi-final at home, with the return leg taking place next Tuesday.
A win or a draw in Paris will see the side through to the final at Wembley, where Reus played in Dortmund’s previous final, a 2-1 loss in 2013 to rivals Bayern.
“We want to go to Wembley, we want to bring the trophy to Dortmund.
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“That’s why it’s simply important that the decision has been made and that the issue is then over. And that we all concentrate on this big goal.”
With a storied 21-year tenure at Borussia Dortmund, Marco Reus has left an indelible mark, including a five-year stint as the team’s esteemed captain.
Regarded as one of the most gifted attackers of his era, Marco Reus had the world at his feet, only for injuries to cruelly snatch away his dream of World Cup glory in 2014.
Marco Reus proudly wore the German national team jersey 48 times, netting 15 goals, and demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Borussia Dortmund, declining lucrative offers from bigger clubs to remain with his beloved team.
Borussia Dortmund’s managing director, Hans-Joachim Watzke, paid a glowing tribute to Marco Reus, labeling him “one of the club’s greatest players” as the team announced the end of an extraordinary era, and extended warm wishes for his future endeavors.
According to sources, the club is eagerly anticipating his potential return to BVB in a new capacity once his professional career comes to a close, with a range of captivating challenges allegedly awaiting him in Dortmund.