Marco Rus
{{short description|Romanian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Marco Rus
| image =
| fullname = Marco Alin Rus
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|1|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| height = 1.79 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Ayr United
| clubnumber = 23
| youthyears1 = 2015–2019
| youthclubs1 = Yeovil Town
| youthyears2 = 2019–2021
| youthclubs2 = Southampton
| youthyears3 = 2021–2022
| youthclubs3 = Coventry City
| years1 = 2022–2024
| clubs1 = Coventry City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022
| clubs2 = → Hereford (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Chorley (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = → Chorley (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2024
| clubs5 = → Universitatea Cluj (loan)
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Ayr United
| caps6 = 24
| goals6 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = Romania U16
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam2 = Romania U17
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| pcupdate = 29 March 2025
| ntupdate =
}}
Marco Alin Rus (born 23 January 2003) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{Scottish football updater|AyrUnite}} club Ayr United.
Born in Cluj-Napoca, he moved to England at the age of 9. He played for the youth academies of English clubs Yeovil Town, Southampton and Coventry City before signing a senior contract at Coventry and spending time on loan at Hereford, Chorley and Universitatea Cluj. He joined Ayr United on a permanent basis in June 2024.
Early life
Rus was born in Cluj-Napoca, but when he was 9 he moved to England with his family. He played for the youth academies of English clubs Yeovil Town, Southampton and Coventry City.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/17762177.southampton-signed-sam-bellis-marco-rus/ |title=Southampton have signed Sam Bellis and Marco Rus |work=Southern Daily Echo |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=20 August 2024 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.ro/fotbal/romanian-liga-i/2023-2024/un-jucator-roman-din-anglia-a-semnat-si-va-juca-pentru-prima-data-in-superliga-romaniei_sto10022774/story.shtml|title=UN JUCĂTOR ROMÂN DIN ANGLIA A SEMNAT ȘI VA JUCA PENTRU PRIMA DATĂ ÎN SUPERLIGA ROMÂNIEI|publisher=eurosport.ro}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.playsport.ro/un-fotbalist-roman-din-anglia-a-semnat-cu-u-cluj-al-6-lea-transfer-pentru-sabau-406337|title=Un fotbalist român din Anglia a semnat cu U Cluj. Al 6-lea transfer pentru Sabău|publisher=playsport.ro}}
Club career
= Coventry City =
In the summer of 2021, Rus joined the academy of EFL Championship club Coventry City after being released by Southampton at the end of the previous season. After a trial period, he signed a two-year contract until June 2023.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Andy |date=2021-09-03 |title=Inside story behind Sky Blues signing Marco Rus from Southampton |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/coventry-city-transfers-marco-rus-21479786 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Coventry Telegraph |language=en}}
In June 2023, Rus signed a new two-year contract at Coventry until 2025.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=Marco Rus signs new two-year deal with Coventry City |url=https://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/sport/football-marco-rus-signs-new-two-year-deal-with-coventry-city/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Coventry Observer |language=en}}
== Loan to Hereford ==
On 3 December 2022, Rus joined National League North club Hereford on a one-month loan.{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2022-12-03 |title=Hereford FC sign teenage attacking midfielder on loan |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/23167742.hereford-fc-sign-teenage-attacking-midfielder-loan/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Hereford Times |language=en}} He made his debut the same day in a 2–1 league defeat away against King’s Lynn Town.{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2022-12-03 |title=King's Lynn Town v Hereford FC LIVE minute by minute updates |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/23167719.kings-lynn-town-v-hereford-fc-live-updates/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Hereford Times |language=en}} He scored his first and only goal for Hereford three days later on his home debut in a 1–1 league draw against Chorley.{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2022-12-06 |title=Hereford FC v Chorley LIVE minute by minute updates |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/23174453.hereford-fc-v-chorley-live-minute-minute-updates/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Hereford Times |language=en}}
== Loans to Chorley ==
On 23 March 2023, Rus joined National League North club Chorley on loan until the end of the season.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Marco Rus joins on loan |url=https://www.chorleyfc.com/blogs/news/marco-rus-joins-on-loan |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Chorley FC |language=en}}
On 9 December 2023, Rus returned to Chorley on a one-month youth loan.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-09 |title=TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins Chorley FC on loan |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/december/transfer-marco-rus-joins-chorley-on-loan/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Coventry City |language=en-gb}}
== Loan to Universitatea Cluj ==
On 13 February 2024, Rus joined Liga I club Universitatea Cluj on loan until the end of the season.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins FC Universitatea Cluj on loan |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/transfer-marco-rus-joins-fc-universitatea-cluj-on-loan/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Coventry City |language=en-gb}} He made his league debut against FCSB on 19 February 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/reactie-marco-rus-u-cluj-fcsb-731257.html|title=Jucătorul transferat de U Cluj din Championship a debutat cu FCSB și a oferit primele declarații: "Am avut puține emoții, U Cluj e un club mare"|publisher=gsp.ro}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zcj.ro/sport/marco-rus-dupa-ce-a-debutat-in-alb-si-negru-nu-am-putut-refuza-u-cluj-e-un-club-foarte-mare--259931.html|title=Marco Rus, după ce a debutat în alb și negru: "Nu am putut refuza U Cluj, e un club foarte mare"|publisher=zcj.ro}}
= Ayr United =
On 15 June 2024, Rus signed for Scottish Championship club Ayr United for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Andy |date=15 June 2024 |title=Coventry City complete first outward transfer as midfielder moves for 'undisclosed' fee - CoventryLive |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/coventry-transfers-marco-rus-ayr-29361794 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Coventry Telegraph}}
Personal life
His father, Alin, was also a professional footballer.{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/superliga/fotbalistul-transferat-din-anglia-in-superliga-romaniei-fascinat-dupa-ce-a-debutat-in-meciul-cu-fcsb-19832375|title=Fotbalistul transferat din Anglia în Superliga României, fascinat după ce a debutat în meciul cu FCSB: "N-am mai jucat cu 25.000 de oameni în tribune!". Nota surprinzătoare pe care și-o acordă după primul meci.|publisher=prosport.ro}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 29 March 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Cupa României, Scottish Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{Efn|Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Coventry City
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|125108|2021|access-date=30 March 2025 }} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|125108|2022|access-date=30 March 2025 }}
|EFL Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|125108|2023|access-date=30 March 2025 }}
|EFL Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 | ||||||||||
| Hereford (loan)
|2022–23{{cite web |title=M. Rus: Summary |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/marco-rus/624920/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 March 2025}} |4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Chorley (loan)
|National League North |6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Chorley (loan)
|National League North |6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Universitatea Cluj (loan)
|7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | |||
| Ayr United
|2024–25{{soccerbase season|125108|2024|access-date=30 March 2025 }} |24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3{{Efn|name=SCC|Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup}} | 1 | 32 | 5 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!47||7||3||0||3||1||3||1||56||9 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|marco-rus/624920}}
- {{LPF.ro|rus-marco-alin/2233}}
{{Ayr United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rus, Marco}}
Category:Footballers from Cluj-Napoca
Category:Romanian emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Romanian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Hereford F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:FC Universitatea Cluj players
Category:Ayr United F.C. players
Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Romania men's youth international footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen
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