Marie-Louise Eta became the first female head coach in Germany's top football league last week, marking a milestone as no woman has previously been head coach for any team in the top five European leagues until now. Union Berlin has made a historic decision by hiring the 34-year-old as interim coach for the Bundesliga club for the rest of the season, which makes her the first appointment of a female head coach in the men's Bundesliga ever. This decision follows the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, whose team lost 3-1 to bottom side FC Heidenheim on Saturday, after which Union's head coach and assistant coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna were fired. Union Berlin is in eleventh place in the Bundesliga, seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot, but the team has a run of two wins from 14 games according to major media reports. Research indicates Union Berlin sit 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga, are 11 points clear of the automatic relegation zone with five matches remaining but have only won twice in 14 league outings in 2026. The announcement of Eta's appointment until the end of the season came after Union lost 3-1 to bottom-placed Heidenheim on Saturday, leading to Baumgart's sacking. Marie-Louise Eta was given the reins on an interim basis after Steffen Baumgart, her predecessor, was sacked on Saturday.
Marie-Louise Eta is no stranger to breaking barriers, having become the Bundesliga's first female assistant coach, also with Union Berlin, in November 2023 according to research. She previously took sole charge of the men’s team, guiding Union to a win, draw and defeat early in 2024 when the then-head coach, Nenad Bjelica, was suspended, and at that point she was working as one of Bjelica’s assistants, the first woman to occupy such a role in Bundesliga history. Research shows Eta deputised for then-manager Nenad Bjelica, who was serving a three-match suspension, during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024 to become the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team from the touchline. Major media reports indicate Eta was well regarded from her time coaching the men’s under-19s, with her under-19s side feted for their ambitious approach, and those who have witnessed her work first-hand speak of a natural energy and presence. Eta has until now had a role as assistant in Union Berlin and as responsible for the club's U19 team, and research notes she is a former Germany youth international and Women's Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam who has been working as Union Berlin's under-19s manager since July 2025 and will become the club's women's head coach in the summer.
I have full understanding for the debate. But for me it has always been about football, about working together with people.
After Marie-Louise Eta was presented for Bundesliga club Union Berlin last week, several hateful and sexist comments appeared on social media, according to official sources. Marie-Louise Eta addressed criticism and sexist comments she received on social media at her first press conference, stating she had full understanding for the debate but for her it has always been about football and working together with people. She added that there wasn't really time for her to handle it in depth, acknowledging that hate comments occurred but noting there was also a lot of positive response, and she described it as a general problem with what happens on social media and what is expressed there anonymously. According to The Guardian - Football, Marie-Louise Eta described hoping to 'convince with quality and substance' rather than benefit from any tokenism.
Sarina Wiegman paid tribute to Eta on Monday in her pre-match press conference for England women’s game against Spain, according to major media reports. Wiegman said it’s great and that Eta is a trailblazer, adding this was a matter of time anyway and it’s exciting as it shows football is moving up, with women in society everywhere and the next step being in football, male and female. Major media reports indicate Wiegman was looking ahead to a day when football is blind to the sex or gender of those helming its teams. According to www.bbc.com, Jacob Sweetman, a spokesman for Union Berlin, described having to say, in his best part of 20 years with this club, he is not sure he has ever seen such unanimous support for a new coach coming in, noting this is only on an interim basis but from within the club and fanbase, everybody is very happy with this decision, and he would say it is 99% positive.
There wasn't really time for me to handle it in depth. I know that hate comments occurred. But there was also a lot of positive response. It is a general problem with what happens on social media, what is expressed there anonymously.
Eta's appointment comes more than 25 years after Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men's professional team in Europe when she joined Italian third division side Viterbese in 1999, according to research. In France the former national team coach, Corinne Diacre, managed Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot between 2014 and 2017. In July 2023, Hannah Dingley became the first woman to manage a professional men's team in English football when she was appointed caretaker boss of Forest Green Rovers, research shows. Major media reports note that numerous men have successfully coached women’s sides, and Germany has been quicker on the uptake than most, with Sabrina Wittmann, head coach of the third-tier club FC Ingolstadt, on course to celebrate her second anniversary in the job this June. However, a woman is yet to lead a professional men’s team in a competitive fixture in England, according to major media.
Eta pointed to the challenges she faces, with Union seven points ahead of St Pauli, who sit in the relegation play-off spot, according to research. She stated that given the points gap in the lower half of the table, Union's place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure, and she is delighted the club has entrusted her with this challenging task, adding one of Union's strengths has always been the ability to pull together in such situations and she is convinced they will secure the crucial points. The team's precarious position is compounded by its recent form, with only two wins in 14 league outings. It remains unclear what specific measures, if any, Union Berlin or football authorities are taking to address the sexist social media comments directed at Marie-Louise Eta.
I understand the interest behind it. It would be nice if these questions someday no longer existed – if it was just about the sport. Everyone wants to get the best possible out of themselves, regardless of gender.
The implications of Eta's appointment for gender equality in football are significant, as it breaks a long-standing barrier in one of Europe's premier leagues. Marie-Louise Eta believes the focus should be on the sport instead of gender when asked about women's role in men's football, stating she understands the interest behind it and it would be nice if these questions someday no longer existed – if it was just about the sport, with everyone wanting to get the best possible out of themselves regardless of gender. However, unknowns persist, including whether Marie-Louise Eta will continue in a coaching role with the men's team after she becomes head coach of the women's team this summer. The exact terms and duration of her interim contract, beyond it being for the rest of the season, have not been disclosed.
Further unknowns surround how the players and coaching staff at Union Berlin have reacted internally to Marie-Louise Eta's appointment, as internal dynamics can influence team performance. Additionally, the specific reasons for the dismissal of assistant coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna alongside Steffen Baumgart have not been detailed by the club. These factors could impact Eta's ability to stabilize the team in the remaining matches of the season. As Union Berlin navigates this transitional period, the broader football community will be watching closely to see if Eta's historic appointment can translate into on-field success and pave the way for more women in leadership roles across men's football.
I hoped to 'convince with quality and substance' rather than benefit from any tokenism.
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. One of Union's strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations. I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points.
I have to say, in my best part of 20 years with this club, I am not sure I have ever seen such unanimous support for a new coach coming in. This is only on an interim basis of course but certainly from within the club itself and the fanbase, everybody is very happy with this decision. I would say it is 99% positive.