Marco Reus: 10 things you might not know about the Germany and Dortmund star
Marco Reus is one of the Bundesliga and Germany's biggest stars, and he finally got his hands on a first title with boyhood club Borussia Dortmund at the end of the 2016/17 campaign in the DFB Cup final. But do you know everything about him?
To make sure you haven't missed anything from his star-studded career so far, bundesliga.com has found ten things you may not know about BVB's "Rolls Royce".
Watch: Marco Reus' Top 5 goals in 2016/17!
1) Humble beginnings
Born in Dortmund on 31 May 1989, Reus' first club was local outfit Post SV Dortmund, whom he joined as a boy. His former coach, Andrea Schürmann, recalls how Reus spent almost every available moment kicking a ball. "He always loved playing, either here or at home. He was good on the ball and more than held his own in the team."
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2) Starting early
Having registered with his first club at the age of 4, Marco quickly became football obsessed and could only be found with a ball, or ball-shaped object, at his feet. "At home I used tangerines and apples as playing objects, so that helped my parents make up their mind for me to join a team." Reus joined the Dortmund youth academy in 1996, but was told his slight physique would hinder him turning professional, and he moved to Rot-Weiß Ahlen to play regular football. "It was very painful for me to leave‚" he told The Guardian in 2013. "When you spend your whole youth career at one club, you want to make the next step – especially when you support that team."
3) The Gladbach years
He was signed by Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2009 and went on to shape the immediate future of the club. He bagged the decisive goal that helped the Foals avoid relegation in 2011 and then scored 18 times in 2011/12 to secure a fourth-placed finish and entry to the UEFA Champions League qualifying stage.
4) Major tournament heartache
Reus' international career started well as he took part and scored in Euro 2012. He scored eight league goals and provided five assists in the second half of the 2013/14 season, but his dream of playing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup was shattered by an ankle injury suffered against Armenia. Germany went on to win a fourth World Cup without him... The same happened again before Euro 2016, as Reus missed out on another international tournament due to injury.
5) BFFs - Mario Götze's support
While Marco missed out on World Cup glory, best friend Mario Götze lived every young football fan's dream by scoring the winning goal in the final against Argentina. He dedicated the win to Marco by carrying a shirt with his name on the back around the pitch during the celebrations.
6) BVB Bromance
Marco Reus' best-known bromance at Borussia Dortmund comes with striker Pierre-Emerick Aubamyeang. The pair are inseparable on and off the pitch, and could fill an entire highlights DVD with their deadly combinations.
Watch: Marco Reus and the secret handshakes at Borussia Dortmund
7) The brand behind the footballer
His performances on the pitch in the Bundesliga and internationally have taken Reus to a special level of stardom. From this, the Dortmund star has been able to create a brand - "MRXI" and platform for his fans to learn more about their favourite player, as well as using his following and voice to help several charities. He is also a model for men's fashion outlet 'pursuit'.
8) FIFA 17 stardom
Reus is a global star, with fans not just following him alongside Borussia Dortmund, but his personal footballing career, too. The level of his popularity was proven in 2016, when in a public vote against Real Madrid's James Rodriguez, Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Manchester United's Anthony Martial, the German came out on top and was made the cover star of FIFA 17.
9) A charity man
Dortmund's star is someone who always gives back to those less fortunate than himself. He has been doing it for some years now, with regular visits to children in Dortmund hospitals as part of the "ELTERNTREFF" ('ParentMeet') scheme. Reus supports children suffering with leukaemia and tumours, and also donates part of the profit from his clothing line "MRXI" to charity.
10) TV and film freak!
It is often a mystery to football fans what exactly their favourite stars get up to during their free time. For Marco, there is only one thing to do, and that is to become a couch-potato by settling in with a Denzel Washington film or catching up on Game of Thrones and Suits. "I am a complete series junkie," Reus admits on his website.
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