Union Berlin appoint first female head coach - BBC
Marie-Louise Eta becomes the first woman appointed to manage a men's team in one of Europe's top five leagues as she is named interim head coach of Bundesliga side Union Berlin.
www.bbc.co.ukMarie-Louise Eta’s latest notable news is that Union Berlin appointed her as interim head coach of its men’s team, making her the first woman to lead a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues. She took over after Steffen Baumgart was dismissed, and she is also set to become head coach of Union’s women’s team later this summer.[2][3]
What happened
Union Berlin announced Eta as interim coach on 11–12 April 2026, and reports say the club wanted a fresh start after a poor run of results. At the time, Union were 11th in the Bundesliga and still not fully clear of relegation danger.[3][2]
Why it matters
Eta had already broken ground at Union before this appointment, becoming the club’s first female assistant coach and the first woman to coach a Bundesliga team from the sidelines. Her new role is historic because it extends that milestone to a full men’s head-coaching job in a top European league.[2][3]
Background
Eta is 34 and a former player for clubs including Turbine Potsdam, Hamburg, Cloppenburg, and Werder Bremen. She also won the Women’s Champions League with Turbine Potsdam before moving into coaching.[3][2]