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Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus is one of the most in-demand footballers on the planet at the moment. The 26-year-old was part of the Dortmund team that reached the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League final and also finished as runners-up of DFB-Pokal in 2013/14 and 2014/15. He is an established member of Joachim Lowâs German national team and Tomas Tuchelâs current Borussia Dortmund squad, but you probably know all of this about him. We take a look at 7 facts you probably didn't know about Reus.Â
#1 Marco Reus & Mario Gotze friendship
Marco Reus shares a close friendship with his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Mario Gotze. Both of them spent six years at the Borussia Dortmund academy before Reus left for Rot Weiss Ahlen.
But they revealed in an interview that they met each other only in 2009 after Marco Reus signed again for his boyhood club from Borussia Monchengladbach. Mario Gotze left for Bayern Munich in 2013, but that didn’t prove to be a barrier in their friendship as they were together while playing for the German national team.
Talking about their friendship to CQ magazine, Gotze revealed what makes their friendship on and off the pitch so strong.
“It’s helpful, but it’s not really necessary. As a football player, you instinctively put yourself in the other players place and ask yourself: What would I do in his place? Marco often chooses ways I would have chosen too. That’s what I’d call 'blind understanding‘ – you think the same.”
Both of them are key members of Joachim Low’s team and are often seen sharing close moments during games. Gotze was even seen holding Reus’s shirt while celebrating Germany’s FIFA World Cup 2014 win in Brazil. Reus had missed the World Cup due to an injury, but Gotze made sure he dedicated the win to his close friend.
#2 Marco Reus is a Justin Beiber fan
Mario Gotze also revealed that Reus is a huge Justin Beiber fan and is often singing or listening to his songs. Believe it or not, Reus is a self-confessed Belieber.
While many of you are not a big fan of his music, the Dortmund star also loves playing his music before games in the dressing room. Reus first denied such claims, but then revealed when he first met Gotze in 2009 both of them were listening to Justin Bieber, and Gotze also loves listening to the American star.
The fact that both of them have the same taste of music helped their friendship to grow. Reus also follows the likes of Christian Louboutin and Rihanna on Instagram.
#3 Tomas Rosicky is Marko Reus\'s idol
The German star is a huge fan of current Arsenal player Tomas Rosicky, who played for Borussia Dortmund for six seasons between 2001 and 2006. Rosicky was a key member of the Dortmund squad during his time in Germany before his move to Arsenal, and Reus admitted he grew up watching his games and tries to replicate his impact.
While Reus and Rosicky never played together in the same team since Marco was still making a name for himself in the youth squad, he has fond memories of the current Czech Republic national team captain.
“My idol was always Tomas Rosicky. He used to be phenomenal. He had such a good eye for an opening and knew where his teammates were, and he was so quick,” he explained.
“Rosicky had great technique and was so intelligent and mature even though he was still young at Dortmund. I copied everything about him, right down to his sweatbands.”
Rosicky left for Arsenal in 2006 while Marco Reus also left Dortmund in 2006 to sign for Rot Weiss before returning in 2012. Reus did not make a single senior appearance during his first spell with the club, but has now scored 45 goals in 94 appearances and is a fan favourite.
#4 Why Marco Reus left Borussia Dortmund in 2006
Reus had to leave Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16 so that he could get more playing time elsewhere, but it is believed he was told his slight physique would make it difficult for him to be an established player at a top club. Reus then decided to join Rot Weiss who were playing in the third division then.
He initially played for their reserve team before making a transition to the senior team. He was spotted by the Borussia Monchengladbach scouts in 2009, and then signed for them. He made 97 league appearances for Monchengladbach and established himself there, but returning to his boyhood club was always on his mind.
Three years later, former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp brought him back for €17.1 million and made him one of the biggest stars in world football.
“I left BVB because I wanted to play. It’s no use to be in Dortmund if you only sit on the bench,” Reus said.
“That’s why I decided with 16 to go that path. It turned out to be the right choice for me. Since then it’s getting better, step for step, from Ahlen to Mönchengladbach, and from there back to Dortmund. I was lucky that I stayed healthy.”
#5 Reus paid a huge fine for driving without a license
The German star managed his on-field duties very well but neglected few of his off-field duties. Reus was handed one of the biggest driving fines in the history of Germany in March 2014. He was caught driving without a license, and it was later known to the officials that he never had a valid driving license.
Reus was also previously fined for speeding five times and was later fined a hefty €540,000 for six driving offences. Reus later told the German newspaper Bild that he realized his mistake, and it was not something that he would repeat.
“I decided back then to take that road, but the reasons I did it are something I cannot really understand today,” he said. “Today I know that I was too naive and that it was stupid. I have learned my lesson and this will not happen again.”
But Reus did not take the punishment seriously and was under investigation again in April 2015. A Dortmund chief prosecutor revealed that the public informed them that Reus was seen driving on numerous occasions and that they had reopened the investigation.
#6 Pre-match rituals and handsakes
Athletes all over the world are known to have pre-match rituals and superstitions. Cristiano Ronaldo never misses a haircut before a game, Iker Casillas touches the crossbar every time his team scores, Luis Suarez kisses tattoos of his kids’ names every time he scores, Cesc Fabregas kisses the ring given by his girlfriend four times, Phil Jones puts his sock on the left or right foot depending his team is playing at home or away, and Kolo Toure is always the last one to leave the pitch.
Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus is no different. He is known to put on his right sock, right shin guard and right boot first, and he also steps on the pitch always with his left foot.
Reus also has a different handshake for each of his teammates. After a game, he was seen greeting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ilkay Gundogan and Nuri Sahin with completely different handshakes.
#7 Marco\'s Love for tattoos
Celebrities and athletes around the world are seen with tattoos on their skin. David Beckham has almost his entire body inked with his children’s names, Jesus Christ and the famous guardian angels. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had around 50 temporary tattoos inked on his body with each of them representing names of real people. Daniel Agger, who himself is a qualified tattoo artist, has a Viking themed work on his back and YNWA inked on his knuckles to show his love for his former team Liverpool.
Marco Reus is no different and has a "Marco – 31.05.1989” tattooed on his left arm and numerous others on his body. Reus once admitted his obsession for tattoos in an interview.
“I just love tattoos and I have a good tattoo artist. There’ll probably be some more in the future. It might even become an obsession.”
