On Monday, Union Berlin makes history with Marie-Louise Eta as first woman to lead a Bundesliga men’s team. She becomes the first woman to take charge of a men’s team across the top divisions of Europe’s “big five” soccer leagues. The 34-year-old Eta takes over from Steffen Baumgart, who was fired late Saturday with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna after the team’s 3-1 loss at last-place Heidenheim, Union announced just before midnight.
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Her announcement was immediately followed by a slew of misogynistic comments and remarks about her. She has been backed up and supported by many more though. The Union Berlin Admin on X was going off on the comments talking down to/about her show their support for the new headcoach.
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Although this is a very historic time for men’s European futbol shes no stranger to making big impacts. Eta already made history with Union in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and across the top divisions of the “big five” leagues. She had to step in for media duties for head coach Nenad Bjelica when he was suspended for three games in 2024.
