Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach of its men's first team, marking the first time a woman will manage a club in one of Europe's five major leagues.
The German club announced the decision following the departure of Steffen Baumgart. The move follows a period of poor performance that has left the club fighting for survival in the top flight.
“The second half of the season has been disappointing and we cannot be complacent about our position in the table,” said Horst Heldt, Union Berlin's director of professional men's football.
Heldt noted the club's precarious situation, citing only two wins in fourteen matches since the winter break. He stated that the club's recent low performance forced the decision to restart the project.
A historic milestone
Eta, 34, steps into the role until the end of the season. Her appointment follows her previous work with the club's U-19 women's team and her time on the men's first-team coaching staff.
The club confirmed the appointment is part of a planned transition. They noted that Eta will take over the role temporarily before becoming the permanent head coach of the professional women's team this summer.
Eta faces immediate pressure to secure results. “Survival is not yet guaranteed, but I am convinced that, together, we will gather the necessary points,” she said.
Eta brings a significant pedigree to the role. She was the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in the Bundesliga and the Champions League in 2023.
Her playing career includes a Champions League title in 2010 and three Bundesliga titles with Turbine Potsdam. While other women have coached men's teams in lower German or French divisions, Eta is the first to reach the elite level of Europe's top tier.
Her first match in charge will be against Wolfsburg, a critical fixture for Union Berlin's fight against relegation.