Marie-Louise Eta becomes first woman to coach men's team in Europe's top leagues
Union Berlin appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach, making her the first woman to lead a men's team in any of Europe's top five soccer leagues. The 34-year-old takes over from Steffen Baumgart, who was fired.
Union Berlin made history by naming Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach of their men's team. At 34, she becomes the first woman ever appointed to manage a men's team in Europe's top five soccer leagues.
Eta was previously coaching Union Berlin's Under-19 men's team and had already agreed to take over the women's team next season. She replaces Steffen Baumgart, who was fired along with his assistants.
The appointment comes with immediate pressure. Eta has just five games to keep Union Berlin in the Bundesliga and avoid relegation to a lower division.
Eta already broke ground in 2023 when she became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga. Now she's taking the next historic step as a head coach.
Europe's top five leagues include Germany's Bundesliga, England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and France's Ligue 1. No woman had ever been given the top coaching job at a men's team in any of these elite competitions until now.
This breaks a major barrier in professional men's sports, where women coaches have been almost entirely shut out. It could open doors for other qualified women to lead men's teams across Europe's biggest leagues.
Eta will lead Union Berlin in five crucial games to avoid Bundesliga relegation.
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