Marie-Louise Eta Leads 1.FC Union Berlin Warm-Up in Bundesliga Match

Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the head coach of its men’s team, making her the first woman to lead a men’s side in the German Bundesliga and one of Europe’s five biggest leagues. The appointment was announced on April 12, 2026, with Eta tasked with leading the team until the end of the current season.

The decision follows the dismissal of head coach Steffen Baumgart and his assistant coaches, Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna. The coaching change occurred late on April 12, following a 3-1 defeat to Heidenheim, a team currently at the bottom of the league table.

League Survival and Coaching Transition

Union Berlin currently occupies 11th place in the 18-team division. Despite this position, the club’s leadership expressed concern over the team’s precarious standing, noting that they are only seven points clear of St. Pauli, who are in the relegation zone, with five rounds of play remaining.

Horst Heldt, the director of men’s professional football for Union Berlin, stated that the second half of the season had been completely disappointing and that recent results necessitated drastic action. He noted that the team had achieved only two wins from 14 matches since the winter break.

Our situation remains precarious and we desperately need points to secure our place in the league. 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.

Horst Heldt, Union Berlin Director of Men’s Professional Football

Eta, 34, arrives at the top job after serving as the coach of Union Berlin’s Under-19 men’s team. Her appointment to the men’s first team is an interim arrangement; she had previously agreed earlier in April 2026 to become the head coach of Union Berlin’s women’s professional team starting in the summer.

A History of Trailblazing

The appointment marks the latest in a series of milestones for Eta within the Bundesliga and European football. In 2023, she became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and the first across the top divisions of Europe’s big five leagues.

In January 2024, while serving as an assistant to Nenad Bjelica, Eta became the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in the Bundesliga. She deputized for Bjelica during a three-game suspension, which included handling media duties and leading the team on the pitch.

Eta’s transition into coaching followed a professional playing career that ended prematurely when she was 26 years old.

Objectives for the Season Finale

With five games remaining in the season, Eta’s primary objective is to secure the points necessary to guarantee Union Berlin’s survival in the top flight. Following the announcement, Eta acknowledged the difficulty of the task given the points gap in the lower half of the table.

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 we will secure the crucial points with the team.

Marie-Louise Eta, Union Berlin Head Coach

Union Berlin’s management expressed gratitude to the outgoing coaching staff, acknowledging that Steffen Baumgart and his assistants contributed to the club’s survival in the league during the previous season and helped secure a strong points haul during the first half of the 2025-26 season.