Marco Russ

It was probably the most emotional moment of the 2016/17 season: on 28 February, Marco Russ entered the field at the Commerzbank-Arena in the 92nd minute. Everyone inside the stadium stood up – as did the hairs on the back of their necks. Just before the relegation play-off against 1. FC Nürnberg at the end of the previous season, Russ had been diagnosed with cancer but he still wanted to play, to help his team-mates and show his defiance in the face of the disease.

It was evidence of the defender’s passion and fighting spirit, although in a cruel twist of fate, Russ ended up scoring an own goal in the game to give the visitors the lead. Eintracht equalised and went on to win the second leg and secure their Bundesliga status. The father of two had undergone a procedure that morning and followed the Eagles’ escape on TV in the evening.

When Russ made his comeback nine months later as a substitute in a DFB Cup quarter-final against Arminia Bielefeld, his image was broadcast all around the world. The atmosphere inside the Commerzbank-Arena was breathtaking as the centre-back, who was born just outside Frankfurt and has spent most of his career at the club, walked around the pitch at the final whistle together with his family.

There was also a happy ending for Russ the following season. After narrow defeats in 2006 (to Bayern Munich) and 2017 (to Borussia Dortmund), ‘Russa’ finally tasted victory in Berlin in his third DFB Cup final. With the score at 1-1, he replaced Jonathan de Guzman in the 74thminute to reinforce the defence with his tough tackling and experience. The move paid off as Eintracht ran out 3-1 winners against Bayern. It was only right that the tattoo lover then had the trophy inked into his skin.