- Marie-Louise Eta is the first female interim head coach for a men’s team in a top European league.
- Union Berlin made this change after Steffen Baumgart was dismissed following a 3-1 loss to FC Heidenheim.
- Eta previously served as the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach and managed the club’s under-19s team.
Union Berlin has named Marie-Louise Eta as their interim head coach for the remainder of the season. This historic move makes her the first woman to lead a men’s team in one of the top five European leagues. She takes over after the club dismissed Steffen Baumgart.
The decision followed a 3-1 defeat against FC Heidenheim, who are currently at the bottom of the table. Director of men’s football Horst Heldt stated that recent performances lacked confidence. He noted that the second half of the season was hugely disappointing for the club.
Currently, the team sits in 11th place within the 18-team Bundesliga. While they are 11 points above automatic relegation, they have only won two of 14 league games in 2026. Eta believes their position is not yet secure due to the narrow points gap.
The 34-year-old is already a pioneer, having become the league’s first female assistant coach in November 2023. In January 2024, she led a team from the touchline during a win over Darmstadt. She has managed the under-19s since July 2025.
Eta’s background includes playing for Germany’s youth international team and winning the Women’s Champions League. She is scheduled to become the club’s women’s head coach this summer. She expressed delight at being entrusted with the current challenging task for the men.
This appointment follows other female milestones in European football. Carolina Morace managed a professional men’s team in 1999, and Corinne Diacre coached in Ligue 2 from 2014 to 2017. In 2023, Hannah Dingley became the first female manager in English professional football.
