Marco Reus recently made the headlines after a stellar performance against his former club Borussia Mönchengladbach with a brace and 3 assists in a 6-0 pummeling. He could have a hattrick had he taken the penalty in the 90th minute. Typical Reus; an ultimate team man, a selfless leader who doesn’t bother chasing records. While that performance may be a one-off incident, it is a fact that the 32-year-old German has undeniable pedigree. However, several injuries have stopped him from fulfilling the prophecy of being one of the bests in the world. The fact that he plays the game the way it is supposed to, makes it all the more painful for his Faithfuls that he has not been able to manifest his full potential.
Dortmund in Destiny
Reus spent a decade in the Dortmund youth system. But this beautiful and enviable partnership did not start on the right foot. To Reus’ disbelief, BVB rejected him, citing his physique would impede turning into a professional. So, he left his hometown as Rot Weiss Ahlen came to his rescue and signed him up at 16. After making his senior debut at the age of 19, he caught the eye of Mönchengladbach and went on to play for them for three years. It was with Mönchengladbach that he got his first taste of Bundesliga. First, he helped them avoid relegation in the 2010/11 season, and then finish fourth the next season. Earning a Champions League birth for 12/13 season with 18 thunderbolts, he announced himself in some style. Owing to such performances, Dortmund roped him in 2012 – talk about redemption.
Dortmund’s Poster Boy
Since joining Dortmund, he gradually made himself a crucial player. But the story hasn’t panned out as well as he or his followers would have liked. He has had numerous injuries since joining the club. He missed 2 or more games on 18 occasions since he joined Dortmund. In short, he would slowly gather some momentum only to be paused one way or the other. However, that hasn’t deterred the management or the fans to embrace him as the face of the club. In almost a decade, he has represented Dortmund only 236 games scoring 108 goals and assisting 60 times. 236 games are far too less for a player of his ability and that devastates the hearts of football fans. But what is heartening is that 33 of those performances have come in this season, missing only a couple of games because of minor scares. For everything he has been through on and off the field, hope he continues to be in the pink of his health for as long as possible.
An Ultimate Team-Man
Reus is a versatile player capable of playing anywhere in the center or further ahead. His game is simple. He doesn’t do the fancy stuff, but what he does is sufficient and efficient. He likes to do layoffs and makes key passes with ease. While he may not always take set-pieces, he is still very good at direct free-kicks. He is not the most gifted player physically, but his movements make up for it. He would do anything for his side. Besides, he brings more than just his footballing abilities to the table. His immaculate leadership, contagious passion, and love for the game is something you can’t put a price on. Any club would like to have a player like him and any player would love to have a teammate like him. All in all, his strengths compensate for whatever little chinks he has in his armory.
Far from Over
Just 32, Reus still has a few years of competitive football ahead of him. And Reus has been as committed as ever to the Black and Yellow. While many top European sides wanted his services, he politely declined them and remained loyal to the club. Thorough Black and Yellow, on the inside and the outside. Many of his teammates like Lewandowski, Goetze, Hummels, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Sancho have cut ties with Dortmund in search of more glory. However, he stuck to his guns, stayed tight with BVB just for the love of the game, and the club and its fans. He has been one big constant for Dortmund in the past decade and so has the love towards him from the fans.
Sanguinely, his body holds up, he is still very capable of redeeming his career – something he has done in the past. And if recent history is to be taken into deliberation, his body is doing as well as it has done and he is playing as well as he can. His followers are quietly hopeful that he will salvage his career and finish on a high – which he richly deserves, and so do his fans.
