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

Marie-Louise Eta has broken new ground by becoming the first female head coach in the top five European men's leagues, taking the reins at Union Berlin. She will initially serve in an interim capacity before assuming her planned role as head coach of the women's team next season. Eta previously made history in 2023 as the first woman to hold an assistant coaching position 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 she becomes head coach of the women's first team as planned in the summer." Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was let go following the team's 3-1 loss to Heidenheim. With five games remaining, Eta aims to secure Union'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." England manager Sarina Wiegman praised Eta's appointment, calling her a "trailblazer" and stating that it was only a matter of time before a woman took on such a role. Sabrina Wittmann, the first woman to coach a men's team in Germany's top three divisions, also shared her thoughts on Eta's appointment, reflecting on her own experiences as a female coach in a male-dominated sport.