Marie-Louise Eta Makes History as First Female Head Coach in Top European Leagues

In a groundbreaking move, Marie-Louise Eta has been appointed as the head coach of Union Berlin's men's team, making her the first female to hold this position in the top five European leagues. Eta, who will take over as the women's team coach next season, has agreed to an interim role to help secure the men's team's survival in the Bundesliga. With five games remaining, Eta is determined to make a positive impact and has expressed her delight at being entrusted with this challenging task. Her appointment follows the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart and his assistants after a recent loss. Eta previously made history in 2023 as the first woman to be an assistant coach in the Bundesliga and the top divisions of Europe's major leagues. England manager Sarina Wiegman has congratulated Eta on her appointment, describing her as a trailblazer for women in football. Eta's achievement has also drawn praise from Sabrina Wittmann, who became the first woman to coach a men's team in Germany's top three divisions in 2024. Wittmann, who is still coaching Ingolstadt, has spoken about the weight of responsibility that comes with being a female coach in a male-dominated sport.