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

In a landmark decision, Union Berlin has named Marie-Louise Eta as their new interim head coach, marking a historic milestone as the first female head coach in the top five European leagues. Eta, who will take over as the women's team coach next season, has been tasked with securing the men's team's Bundesliga survival with five games remaining. Having previously made history as the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in the Bundesliga and Europe's top divisions, Eta is poised to lead the team to safety. Union sporting director Horst Heldt expressed his delight at Eta's appointment, stating, "I'm thrilled 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 replaced Steffen Baumgart, who was dismissed along with his assistants following the team's 3-1 loss to Heidenheim. England manager Sarina Wiegman praised Eta's appointment, calling her a "trailblazer" and emphasizing the significance of women's participation in football. The move has been hailed as a breakthrough for women in football, with Eta joining the ranks of pioneering female coaches like Sabrina Wittmann, who became the first woman to manage a men's team in Germany's top three divisions in 2024.