Union Berlin Makes History: Marie-Louise Eta Appointed as First Woman to Lead Bundesliga Men’s Team

In a move that shatters a long-standing glass ceiling in European football, 1. FC Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the interim head coach of its men’s professional team. The appointment, announced Saturday, makes Eta the first woman to lead a men’s side in the Bundesliga.

The decision comes as the club takes drastic measures to secure its place in Germany’s top flight. Union Berlin relieved head coach Steffen Baumgart and assistant coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna of their duties following a dismal run of form that has left the club fighting to avoid relegation.

Horst Heldt, Union’s director of men’s professional football, was blunt about the necessity of the change. “We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season so far and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position,” Heldt said. He noted that the club has managed only two wins from fourteen matches since the winter break, describing the current situation as “precarious.”

For those unfamiliar with the Bundesliga’s structure, the fight to avoid the bottom three spots—known as the relegation battle—is often the most high-pressure environment in German sports. With the season entering its final phase, Union Berlin believes a “fresh start” is the only way to gather the points necessary for survival.

A Trailblazer’s Ascent

Marie-Louise Eta is no stranger to making history at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Before this appointment, she had already broken several barriers within the men’s game. In 2023, Eta became the first woman to serve as an assistant coach for a men’s Bundesliga side and a team competing in the men’s UEFA Champions League while working under Marco Grote.

Her transition to the touchline followed a distinguished playing career as a midfielder. Born in Dresden in 1991, Eta played for several notable clubs, including 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, Hamburger SV and Cloppenburg. She spent a significant portion of her senior career at Werder Bremen, where she made 85 appearances and scored 19 goals before retiring at the age of 26 at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Eta also represents a deep pedigree in international coaching. She spent years developing youth talent for the German national team, serving as a coach for the U19 (2019–2020), U15 (2021–2022), and U17 (2022–2023) squads. Most recently, she served as an assistant for Union Berlin’s U19s and the men’s first team.

This is not Eta’s first time managing the men’s squad in a competitive setting. In 2024, she became the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in a Bundesliga game when she temporarily replaced then-head coach Nenad Bjelica, who was serving a three-game ban.

The Mission: Bundesliga Survival

While the historical significance of Eta’s appointment is immense, her immediate focus is purely pragmatic: points. The club’s leadership emphasized that they cannot rely on their current league standing to guarantee safety.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” Eta said ahead of the final matches of the season. “I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta expressed confidence that the squad can secure the crucial points needed to avoid the drop, leaning on the club’s traditional culture of solidarity during crises.

A Bridge to the Women’s Game

The appointment is an interim measure. As part of a broader strategic plan, Marie-Louise Eta is scheduled to become the head coach of Union Berlin’s women’s professional team in the summer. This temporary leadership of the men’s team serves as a bridge before she transitions to her planned role in the women’s game.

The club has expressed gratitude toward the outgoing coaching staff, acknowledging that Steffen Baumgart, Danilo de Souza, and Kevin McKenna were instrumental in the team’s survival last season and a strong points haul during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign.

Union Berlin has indicated that an update regarding the appointment of a new coach for the U19s—the role previously held by Eta—will be provided shortly.

The club now looks toward its remaining fixtures with a historic leader at the helm, hoping that this change in direction provides the spark needed to remain in Germany’s top flight.

Archysport will continue to monitor Union Berlin’s progress in the relegation battle. Share your thoughts on this historic appointment in the comments below.