Historic First: German Club Appoints Female Manager to Avoid Relegation
On 12 April 2026 Union Berlin appointed Marie-Louise Eta as head coach. The club named her after sacking Steffen Baumgart following a defeat to relegation-threatened Heidenheim.
Immediate change and role
Eta, 34, takes interim charge for the remainder of the season. She had already been announced as the club’s women’s team coach starting this summer.
The board gave the new boss a clear brief. Her task is to secure the points needed to keep Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
League standing and urgency
Union sit 11th in the table. They are not yet mathematically safe from relegation.
The side sit 11 points above the drop zone. Despite the cushion, the hierarchy described the situation as precarious.
Form and rationale for change
The decision followed a poor run after the winter break. The team recorded two wins from 14 league fixtures since then.
Director of football Horst Heldt cited disappointing second-half performances. He said the club needed a fresh start to regain momentum.
Historic significance
The appointment marks a historic first for a German club in Europe’s top five leagues. Eta becomes the first woman to lead a top-flight side at this level.
Previous examples of women managing men’s clubs in Europe were at lower tiers. Corinne Diacre led Clermont Foot in France in 2014. Carolina Morace had a brief spell with Italian third-division side Viterbese.
What comes next
Eta will manage the men’s team until the season ends. She will then take over the women’s professional side as planned in the summer.
The club said it trusts Eta to stabilise results. Supporters and observers will watch closely as she attempts to help the team avoid relegation.
This report was filed by Filmogaz.com on 12 April 2026.
