Marco Reus announces he's stepping down as Borussia Dortmund captain

Borussia Dortmund icon Marco Reus has decided to end his five year spell as club captain and hand in the armband ahead of the new Bundesliga season.

Despite the fact that it happened over a month ago, we wouldn't be surprised if some Dortmund players and fans still wake up in the night from nightmares about the final day of last season.

It looked for all the world that the team were about to end a decade of Bayern Munich domination in the top tier, going into the final day of the campaign ahead of their rivals.

However disaster struck and Jamal Musiala struck a late winner to earn Bayern their 11th title in-a-row and leaving their rivals distraught.

One of those players who much have been particularly down would have been team captain Reus who has been at the club since 2012, joining just after their most recent title success..

Now the Germany international has decided that he will play next season without the captaincy, as you can see in his statement in the video below.

Speaking on the club's s social media page the 34-year-old said: "Hello BVB fans, It is very important for me to tell you something personally.

"I had a lot to think about during my vacation, and I have decided to pass on the captain’s armband.

"I informed Edin Terzić and Sebastian Kehl about this yesterday. I was allowed to wear this armband for five years with pride and honour.

"Thank you for your support over the years. I wish Sebastian and Edin that they find a good successor. I am sure they will succeed."

Reus was given the armband initially by Lucien Favre at the beginning of the 2018/19 campaign and has kept it ever since.

In April he signed a one year extension to his contract that will mean it will expire next summer, and that could be the end of his time at Signal Iduna Park.

Reus looks gutted after Dortmund missed out on the title. Image: Getty

As it seems to be every summer at Dortmund, it's another huge transfer window for them after they lost Jude Bellingham to a record breaking fee.

Edin Terzic has already begun rebuilding his side by bringing in Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg and Ramy Bensebaini from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The real rebuild may have to be sorting his current players out because that final day defeat in the title race could play on their minds for some time yet.