This is a historic first. This Sunday, German Marie-Louise Eta became the first woman to coach a Bundesliga team at the age of 34, appointed head of Union Berlin until the end of the season after the dismissal of coach Steffan Baumgart, the Berlin club announced.
In a press release sent during the night from Saturday to Sunday, Union Berlin announced that it was parting ways with Steffan Baumgart, replaced by Marie-Louise Eta to take over after the defeat (3-1) on the lawn of the red lantern Heidenheim.
Accustomed to firsts
The technician was already at the head of the Union Berlin women’s under-19 team. The club announced a week ago that she would be at the head of the Union women’s team, maintained in the first division, from next summer.
From the end of November 2023 until the summer of 2024, she had already been one of the assistants of Marco Grote and Nenad Bjelica, becoming the first woman in the Bundesliga in this role.
For the last five matches of the season, Marie-Louise Eta’s mission will be to keep Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. With 32 points, the only club from the German capital in the first division is seven points ahead of St. Pauli (25), 16th and play-off, and 11 points ahead of Wolfsburg (21), first relegated to 17th place.
First match Saturday at Wolfsburg
“Remaining in the Bundesliga is not yet assured if we look at the points gap with the second half of the standings. I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this difficult task,” said Eta, quoted in the Union Berlin press release.
“One of the strengths of the Union has always been, and remains, the ability to stick together in this kind of situation. And, of course, I am confident that we will get the decisive points together with the team,” she added.
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“We have had an extremely disappointing second half of the season so far and we will not be blinded by our ranking. Our situation remains precarious and we urgently need points to ensure our survival,” commented Union boss Horst Heldt.
For her first match in her new costume, Marie-Louise Eta will face Wolfsburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at the Alte Försterei, the Union stadium in the east of the German capital, a crucial meeting in the fight for maintenance.
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