Credit: Twitter
After five years in the position, Marco Reus has abruptly revealed his intention to step down as Borussia Dortmund's captain. The second-highest all-time goalscorer for Dortmund at the age of 34, the German attacker made his decision known in an unexpected video that was shared on the team's social media channels.
In 2018, Reus succeeded Marcel Schmelzer as the captain of Dortmund after Schmelzer resigned from the job. Reus previously played for Borussia Mönchengladbach before moving to Dortmund in 2012, where he won five trophies, including two DFB-Pokals and three DFL-Supercups. A finalist in the 2013 UEFA Champions League, they fell to Bayern Munich. He had also assisted them in that effort.
The German forward claimed that he had given considerable thought to his future during his holiday and felt it was time for someone else to assume the role of team leader. He expressed gratitude to the supporters for their support and expressed confidence that the team would find a suitable replacement.
Watch the video here:
Reus has, however, encountered a number of difficulties throughout his career, both on and off the pitch. He had sustained several injuries that had kept him out of the game for an extended amount of time. He also missed out on important competitions with the German national team, including the UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which Germany won. He had also lost his spot in the starting XI at the close of the previous season due to a recent decline in his fitness and form.
Dortmund enjoyed a great season in 2023, coming in second place in the Bundesliga and only missing out on the championship on the final day. Additionally, they were eliminated by Chelsea in the Champions League Round of 16 and failed to advance to the DFB-Pokal championship game.
Reus' resignation does not indicate that he will leave Dortmund because he extended his contract with the team in April 2023, keeping him there until 2024. He declared his continued dedication to BVB and his desire to assist them in achieving their objectives.
