Who is Rocco Reitz? The Gladbach fan turned Bundesliga hero training with Germany

Tom Weber

Updated: 24 May 2024 17:12 BST
5 min read

Rocco Reitz is living every fan's dream.

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A boyhood Borussia Monchengladbach fan, the 21-year-old has become a star and supporter favourite for the club he has been cheering on his whole life. After a breakout season, the midfielder was rewarded with a call-up to train with Germany's senior squad ahead of Euro 2024.

With Gladbach, one of Germany's most storied clubs, unfortunately toiling in mediocrity, the homegrown hero may soon have to move on to bigger and better things. He certainly won't have a shortage of suitors.

But who is Rocco Reitz and how good is he really?

What position does Reitz play in?

Reitz is primarily an offensive-minded central midfielder.

How good is Reitz?

Born in Duisburg into a family of Borussia Monchengladbach supporters, Reitz officially joined the Foals' academy at age seven. A club member from birth, the youngster is now living out his dream of playing for the team he supported growing up, but getting to this point wasn't easy. Despite making his first team debut aged 18, it wasn't until age 21 that he won himself a regular spot in the senior side.

After a season-and-a-half spent on loan at St. Truiden in Belgium, Reitz returned to his parent club ahead of the 2023/24 season as still something of an unknown. Now, everybody in Monchengladbach knows his name. The midfielder has become a fan favourite due to being a local boy and a tireless dynamo in the engine room.

Reitz was a starter for Gladbach for most of the campaign and proved to be an important cog in the side despite his youth. With six goals and three assists to his name, the 21-year-old finished the term as the club's joint-third-highest scorer, with his tally only bettered by attackers. Reitz is an all-action midfielder who loves playing in a box-to-box role.

The midfielder covers every blade of grass and does not shy away from challenges. However, he is also very good with the ball at his feet and can beat a man on the dribble. Reitz is an all-rounder and just wants to play. "I don’t care whether it’s as a No 6 or a No 10, or as part of a ‘double 8’ or a ‘single 8,' he told The Athletic. "It doesn’t matter to me - but when I can choose a position, I would love to play box-to-box, getting into the area, scoring goals, using, and stealing the ball. That’s me, that’s my best position - being a little bit free."

Despite his obvious talents, Reitz knows he still has to improve. "My heading needs to be better. Not more powerful, but there are always a lot of duels in midfield and I need to be able to win the ball for my team-mates. I need to be calmer sometimes. Instead of always trying to play forward, sometimes my passes need to go outside, or back deep and safe. I need to look around more, as well, to see more of the pitch - sometimes I have to know it’s OK to put my foot on the ball and keep it."

2023/24 was a campaign that will stay with Reitz forever. It was the season he announced himself to Gladbach's faithful and to the Bundesliga. Indeed, his exploits have not gone unnoticed outside of the Rhineland. Off the back of his breakout year, the U21 international was invited to train with Julian Nagelsmann's senior national team ahead of Euro 2024. While a place in the final squad is unlikely, it won't be the last time that we will see Reitz don a Germany kit.

Azione stupena del Mönchengladbach.

Conclusa da chi?
Ovviamente sempre da quel fenomeno di Rocco Reitz (2002)

Rapidità di pensiero, controllo palla e finta di corpo sublime in questa rete

💎🇩🇪pic.twitter.com/QHEFSbNjTj
— Melos (@Meloslamela) December 21, 2023

What clubs are interested in Reitz?

At the point of writing, no clubs have been credited with a concrete interest in Reitz. The midfielder is believed to have a release clause of more than €10 million in his contract.