Footballer Marco Reus at the press conference of his new club in the USA, Los Angeles Galaxy. (IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire / IMAGO / Ringo Chiu)
Marco Reus is heading far away on the home stretch of his football career. The 35-year-old will be playing 9,000 kilometers away from Dortmund, in California – for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. The club, for which David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic once played, is his first foreign assignment. But Reus has prepared well for his Californian chapter. “Of course I’ve already been in contact with a few people, just to find out more about the club, to find out more about the city. Because the city is big, of course. Where do you settle down? Where do you want to live with your family?”
One of these advisors: a Californian by choice who is well known in Germany. “Jürgen Klinsmann. He lives here, told me a lot about the city, about the club.” The fact that Reus could move to Galaxy after 15 years in the Bundesliga had been a topic of discussion in the USA for months.
MLS is still considered second-class in sporting terms
LA manager Will Kuntz visited the German on holiday in Ibiza and also asked around many of Reus’ former teammates – and received positive feedback from all of them. “Everyone had a good impression of him. I’m just looking forward to his influence in the dressing room and off the pitch – but of course also to his quality and world-class experience on the pitch.” On June 1st, Reus was in the Champions League final with Dortmund, losing 2-0 to Real Madrid. Now he plays in a league that, despite Lionel Messi, is still laughed at in Europe and is considered to be rather second-class. Galaxy is currently the second best team behind Messi’s Inter Miami. The last title win, however, was ten years ago – Reus wants to change that.
“I think the club deserves to win a title again after such a long time. We are in a very, very good position, but there is still a long way to go. But I am very optimistic.” He has signed in LA for two and a half years. His first steps were recorded in detail by the club’s cameramen. Reus on arrival. Reus on the way to the club grounds. Reus alone on the pitch at Galaxy Stadium. He can’t wait to play for the club and for the fans, he says as he looks around the arena. This weekend the wait will be over for him – then Reus will make his debut – in the home game against Atlanta.
