Union Berlin: Sexist abuse of Marie-Louise Eta embarrassing - BBC
Union Berlin director of football Horst Heldt condemns "insane" sexist abuse directed at new head coach Marie-Louise Eta.
www.bbc.co.ukMarie-Louise Eta is in the news because Union Berlin appointed her as interim head coach of the men’s team, making her the first woman to coach a men’s side in one of Europe’s top five leagues. The appointment has also drawn sexist abuse online, which the club has publicly condemned.[2][5]
What happened
Union Berlin confirmed Eta would take charge after Steffen Baumgart was dismissed, with her role set to run until the end of the season before she moves on to the club’s women’s team in the summer. She is 34 and already has a strong connection to the club, having previously worked with Union’s U19s and earlier made history as the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach.[3][5][2]
Why it matters
Her appointment is historic for German football and has been praised by figures such as Sarina Wiegman and Vincent Kompany as a step forward for women in the sport. At the same time, Union Berlin’s leadership has strongly defended her and called the backlash “embarrassing”.[5][8][9][2]
Team context
Union Berlin are sitting 11th in the Bundesliga and have struggled recently, with just two wins in their last 14 league matches in 2026. Eta’s immediate task is to steady the team and guide them through the rest of the campaign.[2][3][5]