Marie-Louise Eta, Carolina, others – Five female coaches of male football teams

By Enitan Abdultawab

Male managers are often the first pick for male football teams. However, there have been a few female managers who have headed male football clubs.

Below are the top five (5) female coaches to have managed clubs in Europe’s top-flight clubs.

Marie-Louise Eta (Germany)
Eta was named interim head coach of Union Berlin’s men’s team on Sunday, April 12, following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart after a disappointing defeat to FC Heidenheim. Her appointment is a landmark moment, as she becomes the first woman to manage a men’s side in the history of the Bundesliga.

Having spent years working within Union Berlin’s youth system and later integrating into the senior coaching setup, Eta’s rise reflects both continuity and trust within the club. She now takes charge for the remainder of the season, with Union Berlin sitting mid-table and still navigating an uncertain finish to their campaign.

Carolina Morace (Italy)
One of the earliest trailblazers was Carolina Morace, who took charge of Italian side Viterbese in 1999, becoming one of the first women to manage a professional men’s team in Europe. Beyond club football, Morace built a distinguished coaching career with women’s national teams, including Canada and Italy, and has remained a vocal advocate for greater female representation in coaching.

Helena Costa (France)
In France, Helena Costa made headlines in 2014 when she was appointed manager of Clermont Foot, marking the first time a woman led a professional men’s team in the country. However, her tenure was short-lived, as she resigned within weeks, citing a lack of support and recognition from within the club.

Corinne Diacre (France)
Costa’s departure opened the door for Corinne Diacre, who stepped in to lead Clermont Foot. Diacre later went on to manage the French women’s national team, though her time there ended in 2023 following internal disputes that highlighted the pressures often faced by women in leadership roles.

Sabrina Wittmann (Germany)
More recently, Sabrina Wittmann has also taken on a prominent role in men’s football, serving as interim head coach at German club Ingolstadt. Wittmann has spoken about the challenge of balancing expectations as a representative of women in the sport while striving to be judged purely on her coaching abilities.