German Bundesliga club Union Berlin have made history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta as their head coach, meaning she becomes the first female to be given the top job at a men\u2019s team in one of Europe\u2019s five biggest leagues.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old is a former professional player who was previously the coach of Union\u2019s Under-19s. She was appointed late on Saturday, following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, after a 3-1 loss to bottom club Heidenheim.<\/p>\n
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Eta is due to take over Union\u2019s women\u2019s team in the summer. She has been appointed as head coach of the men\u2019s side until the end of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,\u201d she said following the announcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union\u2019s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations. And, of course, I am convinced we will secure the crucial points with the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is not the first time Eta and Union have made history. In January 2024, while serving as an assistant coach to Nenad Bjelica, she became the first woman to take charge of a men\u2019s team in the Bundesliga, when she deputised for him during a three-game suspension.<\/p>\n
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Eta has been coaching since her playing career ended prematurely, aged 26. Previously the captain of Werder Bremen\u2019s Frauen Bundesliga side, she was appointed coach of their U15 boys\u2019 team following her retirement in 2018.<\/p>\n
She also served as an assistant coach for the German Women\u2019s national team, before joining Union in 2023, where she became assistant coach of the club\u2019s U19 men\u2019s side with Marco Grote.<\/p>\n
After first-team coach Urs Fischer was dismissed in November 2023, Grote was placed in interim charge for three games, with Eta as his assistant, prior to Bjelica\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n
Horst Heldt, Union\u2019s sporting director, explained the decision in a statement published on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season so far and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position,\u201d he said. \u201cOur situation remains precarious and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league. Two wins from 14 matches since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can still turn things around with the current setup. We have therefore decided to make a fresh start.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted that Marie-Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before becoming head coach of the women\u2019s professional team in the summer as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Union are 11th out of 18 teams in the Bundesliga, having won only two games in 2026, and are seven points above the relegation play-off place. Eta\u2019s first game in charge will be at home to Wolfsburg on Saturday. Her Union side will also face RB Leipzig, Koln, Mainz and Augsburg during their final five matches.<\/p>\n