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#Bundesliga #Union #Berlin #loses #MarieLouise #Eta #debut #Wolfsburg #secures #win">Bundesliga 2025-26: Union Berlin loses on Marie-Louise Eta debut as Wolfsburg secures 2-1 win Union Berlin slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, as new interim coach Marie-Louise Eta became the first woman to lead a Bundesliga men’s side and began her tenure with a loss.
Eta, the club’s former Under-19 coach, was appointed interim manager last week following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart. She will remain in charge of the men’s first team until the end of the season before moving to the club’s women’s side.
She had already made history as the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023, and her latest app
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Relegation-threatened Wolfsburg took the lead in the 11th minute through Patrick Wimmer. Dzenan Pejcinovic doubled the advantage a minute after halftime to put the visitors in control.
Union pulled one back late through Oliver Burke in the 86th minute but could not find an equaliser.
Published on Apr 18, 2026
Union Berlin slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, as new…
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#Union #Berlin #rules #permanent #mens #role #MarieLouise #Eta #historic #appointment">Union Berlin rules out permanent men’s role for Marie-Louise Eta despite historic appointment
Marie-Louise Eta will make history this Saturday when she becomes the first woman to coach a men’s team in any of Europe’s top five leagues, taking charge of Union Berlin against VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
But even before her five-game interim stint begins, club president Dirk Zingler has ruled out the possibility of her taking the men’s job permanently.
Eta, 34, is set to lead Union for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, with the club winless in its last three matches and just two victories in 14. Union currently sits 11th in the 18-team table, still not mathematically safe from relegation.
However, Zingler insisted that Eta’s long-term future remains with the club’s women’s side, in line with a previously signed agreement.
Framing her interim spell as an audition for the men’s role, he argued, would undermine both her and the women’s game.
“If she does well and stays with the men, or doesn’t and goes to the women, that’s not a discussion I’m having at all,” Zingler told Sky Sport Germany. “That would be a disservice to her and to women’s football.”
His stance appears to contradict sporting director Horst Heldt, who had earlier left the door open for Eta to be considered for the permanent role.
Eta, for her part, has played down the noise, focusing only on results during her short tenure. “Next year, in any case, I’ll still be a coach,” she said.
Already a trailblazer, Eta previously became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and has also worked with Union’s Under-19 men’s team.
Her appointment has drawn widespread attention, including sexist abuse on social media, prompting the club to publicly defend her.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Marie-Louise Eta will make history this Saturday when she becomes the first woman to coach a men’s team in any of Europe’s top five leagues, taking charge of Union Berlin against VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
But even before her five-game interim stint begins, club president Dirk Zingler has ruled out the possibility of her taking the men’s job permanently.
Eta, 34, is set to lead Union for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, with the club winless in its last three matches and just two victories in 14. Union currently sits 11th in the 18-team table, still not mathematically safe from relegation.
However, Zingler insisted that Eta’s long-term future remains with the club’s women’s side, in line with a previously signed agreement.
Framing her interim spell as an audition for the men’s role, he argued, would undermine both her and the women’s game.
“If she does well and stays with the men, or doesn’t and goes to the women, that’s not a discussion I’m having at all,” Zingler told Sky Sport Germany. “That would be a disservice to her and to women’s football.”
His stance appears to contradict sporting director Horst Heldt, who had earlier left the door open for Eta to be considered for the permanent role.
Eta, for her part, has played down the noise, focusing only on results during her short tenure. “Next year, in any case, I’ll still be a coach,” she said.
Already a trailblazer, Eta previously became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and has also worked with Union’s Under-19 men’s team.
Her appointment has drawn widespread attention, including sexist abuse on social media, prompting the club to publicly defend her.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Marie-Louise Eta will make history this Saturday when she becomes the first woman to coach…
Sports news
#Union #Berlins #MarieLouise #Eta #aware #special #position #Bundesliga #focus #football">Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta aware of special position in Bundesliga but wants to focus on football
Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta — the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team — is well aware of the discussions regarding her appointment last week but said on Thursday she was only focused on getting the side back on the winning track.
Eta was appointed interim head coach on Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.
She will oversee the men’s first team through the end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.
“I totally understand that in public there is this issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach),” she told a press conference ahead of her first game on Saturday at home to strugglers VfL Wolfsburg.
“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.
“I have the trust of the club and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.
ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’
Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, Eta added: “There was nothing to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, and then things happened quickly.”
Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions in many clubs around the world.
“There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,” Eta said. “I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch.”
Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.
She became the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the club.
“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.
“That my appointment became so big may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta — the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team — is well aware of the discussions regarding her appointment last week but said on Thursday she was only focused on getting the side back on the winning track.
Eta was appointed interim head coach on Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.
She will oversee the men’s first team through the end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.
“I totally understand that in public there is this issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach),” she told a press conference ahead of her first game on Saturday at home to strugglers VfL Wolfsburg.
“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.
“I have the trust of the club and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.
ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’
Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, Eta added: “There was nothing to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, and then things happened quickly.”
Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions in many clubs around the world.
“There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,” Eta said. “I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch.”
Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.
She became the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the club.
“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.
“That my appointment became so big may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta -- the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team…
