Quick Read
- Marie-Louise Eta has been appointed interim coach of Union Berlin, becoming the first woman to lead a men’s team in the Bundesliga.
- The appointment follows the firing of Steffen Baumgart after a 3-1 loss left the club in a precarious position near the relegation zone.
- Eta will manage the final five games of the season, beginning with a match against Wolfsburg next weekend.
BERLIN (Azat TV) – Union Berlin has officially appointed 34-year-old Marie-Louise Eta as the club’s interim head coach, marking the first time a woman has taken charge of a men’s team in the Bundesliga. The decision comes following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, who was relieved of his duties late Saturday after a 3-1 defeat to bottom-placed FC Heidenheim.
A Historic Shift for Bundesliga Survival
The appointment serves as a high-stakes move for the club, which currently sits in 11th place, just seven points above the relegation zone with only five matches remaining. Sporting director Horst Heldt emphasized the necessity of the change, citing a disappointing second half of the season and the urgent need to stabilize the team’s performance to avoid dropping out of Germany’s top division.
Eta, who previously made history in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga, transitions to the role from her position as the club’s under-19 men’s manager. She is already slated to become the head coach of Union’s women’s team this summer, but will now lead the men’s squad through the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
The Road Ahead for the New Manager
The challenge for Eta begins immediately, with her first match in charge scheduled for next weekend against Wolfsburg. Her tenure will encompass critical fixtures against RB Leipzig, Koln, Mainz, and Augsburg, all of which will determine the club’s future in the league.
Reflecting on her new responsibilities, Eta stated she is convinced that the squad can secure the necessary points to maintain their top-flight status. Her appointment follows a trend of increasing female representation in professional European football, though she remains the first to lead a men’s top-division side in Germany.
Precedent and Professional Impact
While this is a landmark moment for the Bundesliga, Eta is not without experience on the touchline. In January 2024, she famously stepped in to lead the team during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt while then-manager Nenad Bjelica served a three-match suspension. Her career trajectory, which includes playing for Werder Bremen and winning the Women’s Champions League with Turbine Potsdam, has prepared her for the intense pressure of the current relegation battle.
The appointment of Eta represents a significant departure from traditional coaching hierarchies in European football, signaling that Union Berlin is prioritizing tactical continuity and familiarity with the club’s internal youth structure over external managerial experience in their desperate bid to avoid relegation.