Marco Reus has stepped down from his role as Borussia Dortmund team captain. The 34-year-old player initially informed sporting director Sebastian Kehl and head coach Edin Terzic of this decision on Wednesday before going public with a video message this Thursday.

Marco Reus, whose 161 competitive goals for BVB have only been surpassed by club legend Adi Preißler, has been the Borussia Dortmund team captain since the 2018/19 season. He has captained the team in a total of 178 matches; the first time was before his official tenure in a DFB-Pokal tie away to Stuttgarter Kickers on 16 October 2014. The Dortmund native has been playing for his hometown club, for whom he has so far made 387 appearances, (again) since 2012. 

"I had time to think during my vacation and I made the decision to pass on the captain's armband," explained Reus, adding: "I was allowed to wear this armband for five years full of pride. It was a great honour for me."

Marco Reus won the DFB-Pokal with BVB in 2017 and 2021. The 34-year-old is set for his 15th Bundesliga season this summer. Of the players that are currently still active, no-one can match the 150 goals that Reus has to his name.

To the video