Union Berlin Appoints Marie-Louise Eta Head Coach in Big Five First

Overview

• Union Berlin elevated long-serving assistant Marie-Louise Eta to lead the men's first team until season's end after Steffen Baumgart's exit following a poor run that included a loss to Heidenheim.
• Eta led her first training session with the squad, and the club's official account publicly rebuked a sexist commenter who questioned her role.
• Sporting director Horst Heldt condemned sexist messages directed at Eta and said the club has 100% confidence in her leadership.
• Eta has worked on Union's staff since 2023 and previously took charge for one match, and local reports suggest success in securing top-flight survival could strengthen her case to continue next season.
• Portuguese coaches hailed the appointment as historic but said similar moves in Portugal remain unlikely soon due to cultural bias, a lack of women in technical roles, and hurdles in accessing the top UEFA Pro license.