Union Berlin make history as Marie-Louise Eta takes over men's team in bid to avoid Bundesliga relegation
Published 12/04/2026 at 09:38 GMT+1
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Marie-Louise Eta has become the first woman to manage a men's team in one of Europe's top five leagues after she was appointed as the interim head coach of Bundesliga side Union Berlin. She was named in the wake of a 3-1 loss to Heidenheim, after which Steffen Baumgart was sacked. The club have won just two league games in 2026 and sit seven points above the relegation play-off spot.
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Bundesliga side Union Berlin have made history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta as head coach for the rest of the season.
Eta's appointment on Saturday saw her become the first woman to get the top coaching job for a men's side in one of Europe's top-five leagues.
The 34-year-old takes the reins following the departure of Steffen Baumgart, who was sacked following a 3-1 away loss to Heidenheim.
Union Berlin are 11th in the league but are only seven points clear of a relegation play-off spot with five games remaining.
They have won just two league games in 2026 out of 14 outings.
”We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season so far and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position,” said Horst Heldt, Union’s director of men’s professional football.
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As a player, Eta won the UEFA Women's Champions League with Turbine Potsdam in 2010 and was a part of the team that won three German titles.
Eta had been working as Union Berlin's under-19s manager since July 2025, and is poised to become the club's new women's team head coach in the summer.
”Our situation remains precarious and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league," Heldt continued.
"Two wins from fourteen matches since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can still turn things around with the current set-up. We have therefore decided to make a fresh start."
Eta was immediately installed as head coach following the dismissal of Baumgart, but she is no stranger to making history.
In the 2023/24 season, she became the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in the men's Bundesliga with Union Berlin.
She also stood in for then-manager Nenad Bjelica as he served a three-match suspension, and became the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team from the touchline in a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024.
”Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta in the club's official statement.
”I am delighted that 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. And, of course, I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points with the team.”
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Seven points ahead of St Pauli, who sit in the relegation play-off spot, Union Berlin have crucial games against relegation rivals in the coming weeks.
They host Wolfsburg next weekend, who sit in 17th and are six points away from escaping the drop zone.
A daunting visit to RB Leipzig follows, before they welcome 15th-placed FC Koln to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei for a crucial relegation battle.
At the other end of the table, Harry Kane's Bayern Munich side are strolling to another league title as they hold a 12-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.
Ballon d'Or hopeful Kane netted his 49th goal of the season in Bayern's 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Bayern welcome Real to Germany for the return leg on April 15, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Serie A and Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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