Marie-Louise Eta named Union Berlin head coach, first woman to lead Big 5 men’s side | OneFootball

Union Berlin have appointed Marie-Louise Eta as head coach until the end of the season, making the 34-year-old the first woman to manage a men’s top-flight side in Europe’s Big 5 leagues. She replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was dismissed for poor results, with Union 11th in the Bundesliga and seven points clear of the relegation play-off place held by Sankt Pauli.

The club said on its website that Eta welcomed the demanding task, stressed the team’s togetherness in difficult moments, and expressed confidence they can secure the points needed for survival.

Eta is no stranger to the role, having served as a first-team assistant in 2023-24 during Union’s debut Champions League campaign.

Born in Dresden on 7 July 1991 and originally known as Marie-Louise Bagehorn, she joined Turbine Potsdam at 13 and was part of the squad that won the 2010 Champions League against Lyon, although she remained on the bench in the final.

Her playing career ended in 2018 at Werder Bremen at 26 due to injuries. She moved straight into coaching, earned the UEFA Pro Licence, worked with German youth national teams and joined Union in July 2023.

Promoted to the senior staff a few months later, she handled matchday duties during a brief January 2024 interim with Nenad Bjelica suspended against Darmstadt, a game Union won 1-0.

Last summer she took charge of Union’s under-19s, favouring a high press. She had also been named to lead the women’s team next season, having helped their first-ever promotion to the Frauen Bundesliga for 2024-25 as assistant. Her first match in charge of the men’s side is at Wolfsburg on Saturday at 15:30.

Source: L'Équipe