Marie-Louise Eta has made history after being handed the role of interim head coach at Union Berlin, becoming the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
The 34-year-old steps into the position following the sacking of Steffen Baumgart, whose side suffered a 3-1 defeat to FC Heidenheim. Eta will oversee the team until the end of the season.
Union Berlin currently sit mid-table in the Bundesliga, holding an 11-point cushion above the relegation zone. However, their recent form has been worrying, with just two wins from their last 14 league matches in 2026.
Eta is already familiar with breaking new ground. In November 2023, she became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach, also at Union Berlin. She further etched her name in history in January 2024 when she briefly led the team from the touchline during a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt 98 while then-manager Nenad Bjelica served a suspension.
Before this latest appointment, Eta had been managing Union Berlin’s under-19 side since July 2025 and is also set to take over as the club’s women’s head coach in the summer.
Union’s director of men’s football, Horst Heldt, admitted the team’s recent performances have been far from satisfactory, stressing the need for a reset despite their current league position.
With only a handful of matches remaining, Eta now faces the task of steadying the team, who remain ahead of FC St. Pauli in the relegation play-off race, as she looks to guide them safely through the remainder of the campaign.
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