Marco Rus
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marco Alin Rus | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Cluj-Napoca, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | 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 | 58 | (4) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Romania U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Romania U17 | 5 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 May 2026 | |||
Marco Alin Rus (born 23 January 2003) is a Romanian 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
[edit]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
[edit]Coventry City
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]On 15 June 2024, Rus signed for Scottish Championship club Ayr United for an undisclosed fee.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 1 May 2026
| 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[16] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[17] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hereford (loan) | 2022–23[19] | National League North | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Chorley (loan) | 2022–23[19] | National League North | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| Chorley (loan) | 2023–24[19] | National League North | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| Universitatea Cluj (loan) | 2023–24[19] | Liga I | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Ayr United | 2024–25[20] | Scottish Championship | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5[c] | 1 | 39 | 5 |
| 2025–26[21] | Scottish Championship | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 36 | 1 | |
| Total | 58 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 75 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 81 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 99 | 10 | ||
- ↑ Includes FA Cup, Cupa României, Scottish Cup
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
- ↑ Three appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- ↑ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
Honours
[edit]Individual
- Ayr United Goal of the Season: 2024–25[22]
- Ayr United Young Player of the Year: 2024–25[22]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Southampton have signed Sam Bellis and Marco Rus". Southern Daily Echo. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ↑ "UN JUCĂTOR ROMÂN DIN ANGLIA A SEMNAT ȘI VA JUCA PENTRU PRIMA DATĂ ÎN SUPERLIGA ROMÂNIEI". eurosport.ro.
- ↑ "Un fotbalist român din Anglia a semnat cu U Cluj. Al 6-lea transfer pentru Sabău". playsport.ro.
- ↑ Turner, Andy (3 September 2021). "Inside story behind Sky Blues signing Marco Rus from Southampton". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "Marco Rus signs new two-year deal with Coventry City". Coventry Observer. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ Lawrence, David (3 December 2022). "Hereford FC sign teenage attacking midfielder on loan". Hereford Times. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ Lawrence, David (3 December 2022). "King's Lynn Town v Hereford FC LIVE minute by minute updates". Hereford Times. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ Lawrence, David (6 December 2022). "Hereford FC v Chorley LIVE minute by minute updates". Hereford Times. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "Marco Rus joins on loan". Chorley FC. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins Chorley FC on loan". Coventry City. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "TRANSFER: Marco Rus joins FC Universitatea Cluj on loan". Coventry City. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Marco Rus, după ce a debutat în alb și negru: "Nu am putut refuza U Cluj, e un club foarte mare"". zcj.ro.
- ↑ Turner, Andy (15 June 2024). "Coventry City complete first outward transfer as midfielder moves for 'undisclosed' fee - CoventryLive". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Games played by Marco Rus in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Marco Rus in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Marco Rus in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "M. Rus: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Marco Rus in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Marco Rus in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- 1 2 "Player of the Year 2025". Ayr United. 26 April 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2003 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Cluj-Napoca
- Romanian emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Romanian men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Hereford F.C. players
- National League (English football) players
- Chorley F.C. players
- Liga I players
- Scottish Football League players
- FC Universitatea Cluj players
- Ayr United F.C. players
- Romanian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Romanian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Romania men's youth international footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- 21st-century Romanian sportsmen