Marco Rus

Marco Rus

Personal information
Full name	Marco Alin Rus
Date of birth	(2003-01-23) 23 January 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Ayr United
Number	23
Youth career
2015–2019	Yeovil Town
2019–2021	Southampton
2021–2022	Coventry City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2024	Coventry City	0	(0)
2022	→ Hereford (loan)	4	(1)
2023	→ Chorley (loan)	6	(1)
2023–2024	→ Chorley (loan)	6	(2)
2024	→ Universitatea Cluj (loan)	7	(0)
2024–	Ayr United	11	(1)
International career
2019	Romania U16	3	(0)
2019–2020	Romania U17	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 November 2024

Marco Alin Rus (born 23 January 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Championship 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. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

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. ^[4]

In June 2023, Rus signed a new two-year contract at Coventry until 2025. ^[5]

Loan to Hereford

On 3 December 2022, Rus joined National League North club Hereford on a one-month loan. ^[6] He made his debut the same day in a 2–1 league defeat away against King’s Lynn Town. ^[7] He scored his first and only goal for Hereford three days later on his home debut in a 1–1 league draw against Chorley. ^[8]

Loans to Chorley

On 23 March 2023, Rus joined National League North club Chorley on loan until the end of the season. ^[9]

On 9 December 2023, Rus returned to Chorley on a one-month youth loan. ^[10]

Loan to Universitatea Cluj

On 13 February 2024, Rus joined Liga I club Universitatea Cluj on loan until the end of the season. ^[11] He made his league debut against FCSB on 19 February 2024. ^{[12] [13]}

Ayr United

On 15 June 2024, Rus signed for Scottish Championship club Ayr United for an undisclosed fee. ^[14]

Personal life

His father, Alin, was also a professional footballer. ^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 November 2024 ^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Coventry City	2021–22	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hereford (loan)	2022–23	National League North	4	1	0	0	—		—		4	1
Chorley (loan)	2022–23	National League North	6	1	0	0	—		—		6	1
Chorley (loan)	2023–24	National League North	6	2	0	0	—		—		6	2
Universitatea Cluj (loan)	2023–24	Liga I	7	0	1	0	—		0	0	8	0
Ayr United	2024–25	Scottish Championship	11	1	0	0	3	1	3 [c]	0	17	2
Career Total			34	5	1	0	3	1	3	0	41	6

1. Includes FA Cup, Cupa României, Scottish Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
3. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup

References

1. "Southampton have signed Sam Bellis and Marco Rus". Southern Daily Echo. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
2. "UN JUCĂTOR ROMÂN DIN ANGLIA A SEMNAT ȘI VA JUCA PENTRU PRIMA DATĂ ÎN SUPERLIGA ROMÂNIEI". eurosport.ro.
3. "Un fotbalist român din Anglia a semnat cu U Cluj. Al 6-lea transfer pentru Sabău". playsport.ro.
4. Turner, Andy (3 September 2021). "Inside story behind Sky Blues signing Marco Rus from Southampton". Coventry Telegraph . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
5. "Marco Rus signs new two-year deal with Coventry City". Coventry Observer . 21 June 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
6. Lawrence, David (3 December 2022). "Hereford FC sign teenage attacking midfielder on loan". Hereford Times . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
7. Lawrence, David (3 December 2022). "King's Lynn Town v Hereford FC LIVE minute by minute updates". Hereford Times . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
8. Lawrence, David (6 December 2022). "Hereford FC v Chorley LIVE minute by minute updates". Hereford Times . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
9. "Marco Rus joins on loan". Chorley FC. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
10. "TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins Chorley FC on loan". Coventry City. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
11. "TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins FC Universitatea Cluj on loan". Coventry City. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
12. "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"". gsp.ro.
13. "Marco Rus, după ce a debutat în alb și negru: "Nu am putut refuza U Cluj, e un club foarte mare"". zcj.ro.
14. Turner, Andy (15 June 2024). "Coventry City complete first outward transfer as midfielder moves for 'undisclosed' fee - CoventryLive". Coventry Telegraph . Retrieved 15 June 2024.
15. "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". prosport.ro.
16. Marco Rus at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

External links

• Marco Rus at Soccerway
• Marco Rus – Romanian league stats at LPF (in Romanian)