Union Berlin Appoint First Female Head Coach

Marie-Louise Eta has go nan first female appointed to negociate a men's squad successful 1 of Europe's apical 5 leagues aft being named interim caput coach of Bundesliga broadside Union Berlin.

Her assignment until nan extremity of nan play follows nan dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, whose squad mislaid 3-1 to bottommost broadside FC Heidenheim connected Saturday.

Union Berlin, who beryllium 11th successful nan 18-team Bundesliga, are 11 points clear of nan automatic relegation area pinch 5 matches remaining but person only won doubly successful 14 convention outings successful 2026.

Eta, 34, is nary alien to breaking barriers, becoming nan Bundesliga's first female adjunct coach, besides pinch Union Berlin, successful November 2023.

She deputised for then-manager Nenad Bjelica, who was serving a three-match suspension, during a 1-0 triumph complete Darmstadt successful January 2024 to go nan first female to lead a Bundesliga squad from nan touchline.

Eta, a erstwhile Germany younker world and Women's Champions League victor pinch Turbine Potsdam, has been moving arsenic Union Berlin's under-19s head since July 2025 and will go nan club's women's caput coach successful nan summer.

"We person had a hugely disappointing 2nd half of nan play and will not let ourselves to beryllium blinded by our convention position," said Horst Heldt, Union's head of men's football.

"Our business remains precarious. The performances shown successful caller weeks do not springiness america assurance that we tin move things astir pinch nan existent set-up. We person truthful decided to make a caller start."

Eta pointed to nan challenges she faces, pinch Union 7 points up of St Pauli, who beryllium successful nan relegation play-off spot.

"Given nan points spread successful nan little half of nan table, our spot successful nan Bundesliga is not yet secure," she said.

"I americium delighted nan nine has entrusted maine pinch this challenging task. One of Union's strengths has ever been, and remains, nan expertise to propulsion together successful specified situations.

"I americium convinced that we will unafraid nan important points."