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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
#MarieLouise #Eta #history #mens #Bundesligas #female #coach #takes #charge #Union #Berlin">Marie-Louise Eta makes history as men’s Bundesliga’s first female head coach, takes charge at Union Berlin
Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the first female coach in charge of a men’s team in the Bundesliga as it bids to ensure its league survival.
The 34-year-old Eta takes over from Steffen Baumgart, who was fired with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna after the team’s 3-1 loss at last-place Heidenheim on Saturday, Union announced just before midnight.
Eta, who was coaching the Under-19 men’s team and agreed earlier this month to take over as coach of Union’s women’s team next season, has five games to secure Union’s Bundesliga survival.
She made history in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and across the top divisions of Europe’s “big five” football leagues. She had to step in for media duties for head coach Nenad Bjelica when he was suspended for three games in 2024.
“I’m delighted that Marie Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before she becomes head coach of the women’s first team as planned in the summer,” Union sporting director Horst Heldt said in a statement.
Baumgart, a former Union player, was appointed during the 2024-25 winter break but Heldt said recent results prompted the club to take drastic action.
READ | Bayern Munich breaks all-time Bundesliga record, scores most goals in a season
“We’ve had an completely disappointing second half of the season so far and we’re not letting the table fool us — our situation remains precarious and we desperately need points to secure our place in the league.”
Defeat in Heidenheim left Union in 11th place in the 18-team division, just seven points clear of St. Pauli in the relegation zone with five rounds remaining.
“Two wins out of 14 games since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can turn things around with the current setup. We have therefore decided to make a fresh start,” Heldt said.
Union next hosts Wolfsburg, which is also fighting for survival, next weekend.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the first female coach in charge of a men’s team in the Bundesliga as it bids to ensure its league survival.
The 34-year-old Eta takes over from Steffen Baumgart, who was fired with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna after the team’s 3-1 loss at last-place Heidenheim on Saturday, Union announced just before midnight.
Eta, who was coaching the Under-19 men’s team and agreed earlier this month to take over as coach of Union’s women’s team next season, has five games to secure Union’s Bundesliga survival.
She made history in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and across the top divisions of Europe’s “big five” football leagues. She had to step in for media duties for head coach Nenad Bjelica when he was suspended for three games in 2024.
“I’m delighted that Marie Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before she becomes head coach of the women’s first team as planned in the summer,” Union sporting director Horst Heldt said in a statement.
Baumgart, a former Union player, was appointed during the 2024-25 winter break but Heldt said recent results prompted the club to take drastic action.
READ | Bayern Munich breaks all-time Bundesliga record, scores most goals in a season
“We’ve had an completely disappointing second half of the season so far and we’re not letting the table fool us — our situation remains precarious and we desperately need points to secure our place in the league.”
Defeat in Heidenheim left Union in 11th place in the 18-team division, just seven points clear of St. Pauli in the relegation zone with five rounds remaining.
“Two wins out of 14 games since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can turn things around with the current setup. We have therefore decided to make a fresh start,” Heldt said.
Union next hosts Wolfsburg, which is also fighting for survival, next weekend.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Union Berlin has appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the first female coach in charge of a…