da realsbet： Everything you need to know about Germany and Dortmund superstar Marco Reus!

da bet sport： Marco Reus is a German professional footballer known for his versatility and technical skills. Born on May 31, 1989, in Dortmund, Germany, Reus has had an impressive career playing as an attacking midfielder or forward for both club and country.

He then joined Borussia Monchengladbach in 2009 and had the most successful season in 2012, scoring 18 goals and providing 12 assists in the Bundesliga to secure them a place in the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

Reus returned to his hometown club Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season and helped them reach the 2013 UEFA Champions League final in the first season.

Since then, he has had a remarkable stint at Signal Iduna Park, where he established himself as one of the most productive players in the Bundesliga, and a firm fan favourite of the Yellow Wall.

That Reus is an important player to Borussia Dortmund is a massive understatement. No one denies that football is a team sport, but having players like Reus in your side makes the difference when it comes to winning. He played a vital role in Dortmund's success, helping the team win two DFB-Pokal titles.

Reus' contributions on the field earned him numerous individual accolades, including being named the German Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2019.

On the international stage, Reus has represented the German national team since 2011. However, his international career has been plagued by injuries that prevented him from participating in major tournaments, including the 2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Euro 2016 and 2020.

Nevertheless, when fit, Reus has showcased his talent, skills, and leadership qualities, becoming an integral part of the German setup. In total, he has scored 15 goals in 48 caps for his country.

Here are 15 fun facts about Reus you need to know!

imago imagesRejected by Dortmund at 16

Despite his poor injury record, Reus has racked up 161 goals and 121 assists from 386 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions. That's an incredible return for a midfield player who only cost them £14.5m.

However, they would not have had to fork out this amount if they had not released him from their academy in 2005. Reus's bond with Dortmund goes back to his days as a youth player with the club. He joined the club's youth set-up as a six-year-old and trained with them for nearly 10 years.

However, he failed to make his mark due to his skinny build, and was deemed surplus to requirements in 2009. The attacker relaunched his career at Rot Weiss Ahlen before going on to become a star at Borussia Mochengladbach.

Dortmund eventually realized their mistake and brought him back. Reus always wanted to play for the Yellow and Blacks. It was his boyhood dream to play for Dortmund, and when the opportunity arose, he grabbed it with both hands.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNamed after Dutch football legend Marco van Basten

It is interesting to note also that his parents named him after the famous Dutch football icon Marco van Basten. Actually, his parents were originally going to name him "Dennis" when his mother was pregnant, but after Van Basten's remarkable volleyed goal against the Soviet Union in the final of Euro 1988 in Munich, they decided to name him Marco instead.

Nicknamed as 'Woody' and 'The Prince of Dortmund'🤴

Reus earned his nickname "Woody" after the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker owing to his spiked hairstyle and the way he moves his head. His teammates poked fun as his head bobbing during runs looked like the famous bird. It's a nickname Reus likes himself and named his Twitter handle after it: @woodyinho.

"The Prince of Dortmund" is another nickname for the German. This moniker highlights his status as one of Dortmund's most influential and beloved players. Reus' impact on the team, his performances, and his loyalty to the club have earned him this endearing nickname. His contributions and leadership have cemented his reputation as a key figure in the dressing room and amongst the fanbase.

Could have been a pilot? 👨‍✈️‍✈️

Reus has had a successful football career. However, things could have gone very differently. The German midfield dynamo has admitted If he was forced into a career away from football, he would trade manning the cockpit as a pilot instead of flying across the pitch.

"I've been fascinated by flying since my early childhood," he told Bild in 2012. "Back then I always wanted to become a pilot. I loved flying as a child and still do today."