Historic Appointment: Marie-Louise Eta Becomes First Female Head Coach in Top Five European Leagues

In a groundbreaking move, Marie-Louise Eta has been named as the new head coach of Union Berlin, making her the first female head coach in the top five European leagues. Eta, who will 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. Her appointment comes after she made history in 2023 as the first woman to be an assistant coach in the Bundesliga and the top divisions of Europe's big five leagues. Union sporting director Horst Heldt expressed his delight at Eta's appointment, stating that she will take on the role on an interim basis before becoming head coach of the women's first team in the summer. Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was fired after the team's 3-1 loss to Heidenheim. England manager Sarina Wiegman praised Eta's appointment, calling her a trailblazer and stating that it's a great step forward for women in football. The move has also drawn praise from Sabrina Wittmann, the first woman to take charge of a men's team in Germany's top three divisions, who believes that Eta's appointment will open doors for more women in the sport.