German club Union Berlin appoint first female head coach

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Marie-Louise Eta has become the first woman appointed to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues after being named interim head coach of Bundesliga side Union Berlin.

The 34-year-old was appointed following the sacking of Steffen Baumgart.

Baumgart left Union, who are 11th in the Bundesliga table, after their 3-1 defeat to bottom side Heidenheim on Saturday.

Die Eisernen are seven points clear of St. Pauli in the relegation play-off place with five games remaining, but have won just two of their 14 league matches this calendar year.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Etta, who will become head coach of the club’s women’s side at the end of the season.

“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 has also served as Union’s assistant and under-19s coach, while she also deputised for suspended then-manager Nenad Bjelica during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024.

Her appointment comes more than 25 years after Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in Europe when she joined Italian third division side Viterbese in 1999.