Historic Appointment: Eta Becomes First Female Head Coach in Top European Leagues

In a groundbreaking move, Marie-Louise Eta has been named as the new head coach of Union Berlin, becoming the first female head coach in the top five European leagues. Eta, who is set to take over as coach of Union's women's team next season, has agreed to an interim role to guide the men's team through their remaining five games. She previously made history in 2023 as the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in the Bundesliga and the top divisions of Europe's major leagues. Union sporting director Horst Heldt expressed his delight at Eta's appointment, stating, "I'm pleased that Marie Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before becoming head coach of the women's first team as planned in the summer." Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was let go along with his assistants after the team's 3-1 loss to Heidenheim. With five games remaining, Eta is focused on securing the team's place in the Bundesliga, saying, "Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure. I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task." Her appointment has drawn comparisons to Sabrina Wittmann, who became the first woman to take charge of a men's team in Germany's top three divisions when she was appointed head coach of Ingolstadt in 2024. Wittmann reflected on her experience, saying, "I knew I opened the door a little for women... I was honestly afraid of closing the door." She credited the support of her club and players, stating, "I am really lucky because I have people here who never rated me as only a woman."