In a 20-year professional career, he played as a goalkeeper and was best known for his stints with Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, for whom he appeared in more than 500 official games combined, 471 in the Bundesliga alone.

Reck started his professional career with Kickers Offenbach in the 1983–84 Bundesliga; he played 18 matches as his team were relegated.

On 9 February 2002, in his penultimate year, Reck scored a penalty kick for Schalke in a 4–0 home win against FC St. Pauli.

After the sacking of Fred Rutten in March 2009, he became interim manager, alongside Youri Mulder and Mike Büskens until the end of the season.

[10] After Fortuna dissolved the contract with Köstner in June 2013, Reck returned to the position as head coach in Düsseldorf.

[15] In December 2019, fourth-tier club SSV Jeddeloh announced Reck would take over as manager on a contract until end of the 2019–20 season.