Marie-Louise Eta Becomes First Bundesliga Female Coach
Union Berlin football club has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the club’s team coach.
Marie-Louise Eta becomes the first female head coach in the men’s top five European leagues.
Eta has agreed to take over as coach of Union’s women’s team next season, but now has five games to secure the men’s Bundesliga survival after agreeing an interim role.
She made history in 2023 as the first woman to be assistant coach in the Bundesliga and across the top divisions of Europe’s big five leagues – Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga.
“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.
Eta said: “Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure.
“I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.
“I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points.”
Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was fired with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna after the team’s 3-1 loss at bottom side Heidenheim on Saturday.
Defeat in Heidenheim left Union in 11th place, seven points clear of St. Pauli in the relegation zone with five games remaining.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
