Fatimah Otunsanya
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 runs until the end of the season following the dismissal of head coach Steffen Baumgart after Union Berlin’s 3-1 defeat to bottom-placed FC Heidenheim.
Union Berlin currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining. However, the club has struggled for form, winning only twice in their last 14 league matches in 2026.
Club director of men’s football Horst Heldt said in a statement on the club’s website on Sunday that the decision was driven by recent performances and the need for a fresh approach in the final 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 no stranger to breaking barriers at the club. She became Union Berlin’s first female assistant coach in November 2023 and later made history again 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 Union Berlin’s U19 coach since July 2025 and is set to become the club’s women’s head coach in the summer.
Speaking after her appointment, Eta acknowledged the challenge ahead, with Union still not 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 of the situation, Union spokesperson Jacob Sweetman said the reaction from supporters has been overwhelmingly positive.
“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 response from fans was “99% positive.”
Eta’s appointment adds another milestone to a growing history of women managing men’s football teams in Europe. In 1999, Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team at Viterbese.
Later, Corinne Diacre managed Clermont Foot between 2014 and 2017, while Hannah Dingley briefly became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers in 2023.
Eta now takes charge at a crucial stage of the season, with Union Berlin aiming to secure their Bundesliga status in the final weeks of the campaign.
