Union Berlin has made sporting history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta as the interim head coach of their men’s team, making her the first woman to lead a men’s side in any of Europe’s top five leagues. The 34-year-old takes the helm of the Bundesliga club as they fight to secure their top-flight status for the 2026-27 season.
The appointment follows the sudden dismissal of Steffen Baumgart and his assistant coaches, Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna, on Saturday, April 12, 2026. The decision came after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to bottom-of-the-table FC Heidenheim.
Union Berlin currently sits 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga. While they are 11 points clear of the automatic relegation zone with five matches remaining, the club’s leadership is wary of their recent form. Horst Heldt, Union’s director of men’s football, described the situation as “precarious,” noting that the team has managed only two wins in 14 league games since the start of 2026.
“We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position,” Heldt stated. “The performances shown in recent weeks do not give us confidence that we can turn things around with the current set-up. We have therefore decided to craft a fresh start.”
Eta is already a trailblazer in German football. In November 2023, she became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga. She previously made headlines in January 2024 when she stepped in for then-manager Nenad Bjelica during a three-match suspension, leading the team from the touchline in a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt.
A former Germany youth international and Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, Eta has been managing Union Berlin’s under-19s since July 2025. Her interim role with the men’s team is a temporary assignment before she transitions into her planned role as the head coach of Union Berlin’s women’s professional team this summer.
Facing a tight race in the lower half of the table—including a seven-point gap over St Pauli, who currently occupy the relegation play-off spot—Eta is focused on the immediate challenge of survival.
“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” Eta said. “I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task.”
The move represents a significant shift for the club as they attempt to find a spark in the final five rounds of the season. Union Berlin has confirmed that an update regarding a new coach for the U-19s will be provided shortly.
