Marie-Louise Eta has made history after being appointed interim head coach of Union Berlin, becoming the first woman to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five football leagues.
Her appointment, confirmed on Sunday, April 12, 2026, will run until the end of the season following the dismissal of head coach Steffen Baumgart after the club’s 3-1 loss to FC Heidenheim.
Union Berlin currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining. However, their recent form has been poor, with just two wins in 14 league matches in 2026.
Club director of men’s football, Horst Heldt, said the decision was prompted by disappointing performances and the need for a fresh approach in the closing stages of the season.
“We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season. The performances shown in recent weeks do not give us confidence that we can turn things around with the current set-up,” Heldt said.
Eta is already a trailblazer at the club. She became Union Berlin’s first female assistant coach in November 2023 and again broke new ground in January 2024 when she led the team from the touchline during a Bundesliga match while then-manager Nenad Bjelica was suspended.
A former German youth international and UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, Eta has also been working as the club’s U19 coach since July 2025. She is expected to take over as head coach of the women’s team in the summer.
Speaking after her appointment, Eta acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that Union Berlin are not yet mathematically safe from relegation.
“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure. I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points,” she said.
Despite the pressure, Union Berlin spokesperson Jacob Sweetman said fans have strongly backed the decision.
“In my nearly 20 years with this club, I am not sure I have ever seen such unanimous support for a new coach coming in,” he said, adding that the reaction from supporters was “99% positive.”
Eta’s appointment marks another milestone in the gradual rise of women coaching men’s teams in Europe. In 1999, Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team at Viterbese. Corinne Diacre later coached Clermont Foot between 2014 and 2017, while Hannah Dingley briefly served as caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers in 2023.
Eta now takes charge at a crucial point in the season as Union Berlin battle to secure their Bundesliga status in the final weeks of the campaign.
