BERLIN:
Borussia Dortmund veteran Marco Reus will leave after 12 years at the club at the end of the season, the club announced on Friday.
Both sides have agreed that Reus’ contract will not be extended, although the 34-year-old wants to continue playing and will not retire.
“I have dedicated half my life to this club, I have experienced many ups and downs, but I think more ups and downs,” the Dortmund-born Reus said in a video.
“The club and I decided not to extend the contract. It made me incredibly proud, I’m incredibly grateful to have played at this club for so many years.”
Roos, who came through Dortmund’s youth system before returning to the club after qualifying with neighbors Borussia Monchengladbach, won two German Cups with the club but never lifted the Bundesliga title.
The forward came closest last season, where Dortmund topped the table going into the final day, but a 2-2 home draw against Mainz handed the title to Bayern Munich for an 11th consecutive time.
While Bayer Leverkusen’s breakthrough Bundesliga title means Reus will not be lifting the shield with the club, his side are two games away from winning the Champions League.
Rose came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s semi-final first leg at home, with the second leg next Tuesday.
A win or draw in Paris will take the team to the final at Wembley, where Roos played in Dortmund’s previous final, a 2-1 defeat in 2013 by rivals Bayern.
“We want to go to Wembley, we want to bring the trophy to Dortmund.
“That’s why it’s just important that the decision is made and that the matter is over. And that we all focus on this big goal.”
In total, Reus has spent 21 years with Dortmund and captained the club from 2018 to 2023.
The two-time German Player of the Year was among the best attacking talents of his generation, but injury robbed him of his chance to win the 2014 World Cup.
He played 48 games for Germany, scoring 15 goals.
Reus has reportedly turned down several offers from bigger clubs in order to stay at Dortmund.
In a statement issued by the club, calling the news “the end of an extraordinary era”, BVB chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke praised Reus as “one of the club’s greatest players” and wished him “the what better for his future.
“We very much hope that he will return to BVB after his professional career, because many exciting tasks await him here at Dortmund.”
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