Reitz’s debut shirt framed and hung up at BORUSSIA-PARK

Rocco Reitz has become the 26th Borussia academy graduate to have his debut shirt framed and hung up on the wall in the dressing room corridor at BORUSSIA-PARK. The 18-year-old made his first appearance for the Foals in the victory over Mainz in October.

It was a great honour for Rocco Reitz to finally have his debut shirt framed and hung up in the players’ tunnel at BORUSSIA-PARK. The shirt with the number 43 was worn in the 3-2 away win at Mainz that on 24th October 2020. “I’ve been passing by these shirts for more than twelve years and I’ve always thought how cool it would be to have my shirt up there as well. Now my time has come! It really is a lifelong dream that has come true,” said the 18-year-old, who has progressed through all of the youth teams at the Borussia academy. Reitz is the 26th youngster from the Fohlenstall to make his competitive debut for the club since the move to the new stadium in 2004. Each of these academy graduates have had the shirts from their first appearances framed and hung up in the corridor that connects the first-team and youth-team dressing rooms at BORUSSIA-PARK.

A debut in the starting XI

Unlike many of his predecessors who made their debuts off the bench, Reitz started his first appearance in the Bundesliga away at Mainz. “It was an indescribable feeling. And it was made even more special by the fact that it wasn’t just a brief run-out, but I started the match and played an hour of football,” said Reitz, who was just 18 years and 148 days old on the day of his debut. This makes him twelfth-youngest player to play for Borussia in the Bundesliga in the club’s history. Speaking after that game, sporting director Max Eberl said: “We are delighted that we have once again developed a home-grown talent to make their debut in the Bundesliga. Academy director Roland Virkus and his team deserve a lot of credit for the brilliant work they’re doing with the youngsters here at the club. Borussia are playing at such a high level now that it's not a given to see youth players make it into the first team.”

A season ticket in the Nordkurve

Reitz joined Borussia at the age of seven and has played for all the youth teams from the U9s upwards. The native North Rhine-Westphalian has actually been a member of the club since the day he was born, thanks to his godfather who signed him up. “Borussia is my club. I used to have a season ticket in the Nordkurve and now I’m actually out there on the pitch myself. It’s incredible!” However, Reitz is yet to follow up his debut with a second appearance, spending the last few months sidelined with an inflammation of the pubic bone. The youngster is on the road to recovery now though: “It’s looking like the problem has been cured and I should be able to return to team training soon,” he reported.