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New head coach of German Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Union Berlin Marie-Louise Eta attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP<\/p>\n
New head coach of German Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Union Berlin Marie-Louise Eta attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP<\/p>\n
New head coach of German Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Union Berlin Marie-Louise Eta attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP<\/p>\n
New head coach of German Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Union Berlin Marie-Louise Eta attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP<\/p>\n
New head coach of German Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Union Berlin Marie-Louise Eta attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP<\/p>\n
BERLIN (AP) \u2014 Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta says she understands the commotion over becoming the first female head coach in the Bundesliga but she just wants to get on with her job.<\/p>\n
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Eta made her first media appearance on Thursday, four days after she was appointed to the season’s end after Steffan Baumgart was fired. She has five games.<\/p>\n
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\u201cFor me it\u2019s always about football, it\u2019s about working with people, and what I like most \u2013 enjoying as much success as possible together,\u201d Eta said.<\/p>\n
It’s not her first time breaking barriers. She was the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga, also with Union, in 2023, and has been working as the Union Berlin Under-19 men’s coach since July.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trusted here. I appreciate that trust,” she said. “I\u2019m happy to be here. I\u2019m happy we have a Bundesliga match this weekend, and I know that this has a social impact and perhaps even sends a message. I understand that. But the most important thing right now is what\u2019s happening in the next few days, that we prepare ourselves as well as possible for the Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg.\u201d<\/p>\n
Union is only seven points clear of the relegation zone after winning just two games in 2026. Wolfsburg\u2019s plight is even worse, second to last and seven points from safety with five rounds remaining.<\/p>\n
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The announcement of 34-year-old Eta\u2019s appointment prompted sexist and derogatory comments on social media, leading Union to push back.<\/p>\n
Eta said she didn\u2019t pay any attention to the negative comments but pointed to an overwhelming positive reaction, including from Bundesliga rivals.<\/p>\n
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said he was \u201cthrilled\u201d by Eta\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always easy to downplay these key moments and say she\u2019s just a coach like any other,\u201d Kompany said. \u201cBut in the end it\u2019s something truly special. It opens opportunities for younger women who feel they can become coaches, too. It opens doors. I wish her all the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
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St. Pauli counterpart Alexander Blessin said Eta deserved her chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the quality is there, every person deserves it, then gender doesn\u2019t matter. I find it a shame that we\u2019re still discussing it,\u201d Blessin said.<\/p>\n
Breaking barriers<\/p>\n
Eta is the first female head coach across the big five top divisions in men\u2019s soccer in Spain, England, France, Italy and Germany.<\/p>\n
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Union\u2019s small media room usually suffices, but it was packed with text writers, videographers and photographers on Thursday. Spanish-speaking journalists attested to the interest far beyond the Berlin borough of K\u00f6penick where Union is based.<\/p>\n
Eta entered the room with a cheery \u201cHallo!\u201d and quickly tried to shift focus to the team\u2019s upcoming game on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand the interest in principle. We already had something similar about 2 \u00bd years ago,\u201d Eta said, referring to her time as assistant coach. \u201cI\u2019m familiar with it, and fundamentally what was always important to me was that we focus on the day-to-day aspects and the sense of community that happens on the pitch. It\u2019s about football, it\u2019s about performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Union sporting chief Horst Heldt on Monday didn\u2019t rule out Eta staying in charge of the men\u2019s team beyond the five remaining league games, though she was already lined up to take over the women\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNext year in any case I\u2019ll still be a coach,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Eta said she was happy if her appointment \u201copens up new paths and doors, perhaps even creates inspiration for young girls so they perhaps can see, hey, everything\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
But she made clear she wishes it wasn\u2019t an issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that in the coming years,” she said, \u201call of this will become even less important and that eventually only football will be the deciding factor.\u201d<\/p>\n
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