Union Berlin makes history with Marie-Louise Eta as first woman to lead a Bundesliga men’s team

Union Berlin's co-coach Marie-Louise Eta leads a soccer training session on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (Matthias Koch/dpa via AP, File) 2026-04-11T23:56:04Z BERLIN (AP) — Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the first female head coach in the men’s Bundesliga as it bids to ensure its league survival. She becomes the first woman to take charge of a men’s team across the top divisions of Europe’s “big five” soccer leagues. The 34-year-old Eta takes over from Steffen Baumgart, who was fired late Saturday with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna after the team’s 3-1 loss at last-place Heidenheim, Union announced just before midnight. Eta, who was coaching Union’s Under-19 men’s team and agreed earlier this month to take over as coach of Union’s women’s team next season, has five games to secure the Köpenick-based club’s Bundesliga survival. “Staying in the Bundesliga is not yet guaranteed given the point-differences in the lower half of the table. I’m happy that the club entrusts me with this challenging task,” Eta told the club website. ”One of Union’s strengths has always been our ability to pull together in such situations. And of course I’m convinced that we’ll get the decisive points with the team.” Eta already made history with Union in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and across the top divisions of the “big five” leagues. She had to step in for media duties for head coach Nenad Bjelica when he was suspended for three games in 2024. “I’m delighted 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,” Union sporting director Horst Heldt said in a statement. (