For Marie-Louise Eta, historic head coach role is just about football
Eta takes charge of Union Berlin for five matches as interim head coach
- Published
When international media packed into Union Berlin's cramped press room Thursday, Marie-Louise Eta looked quietly amused by the spectacle.
"I understand this is a big story for many people," the club's new head coach said. "But for me, it's always been about football and working with people."
Still, Eta recognizes the weight of Saturday's match against Wolfsburg. When she leads Union Berlin onto the pitch, the 34-year-old will become the first woman to manage a men's team in any of Europe's top five leagues.
Appointed as interim coach through season's end after Steffen Baumgart's dismissal last weekend, Eta has already generated headlines worldwide before taking charge of a single game.
At Thursday's press conference, she reframed the narrative. While acknowledging those who view her appointment as having "a signaling effect," she stressed she's "far from the first woman working in professional men's football."
The attention isn't entirely new territory. During the 2023-24 season, Eta became the Bundesliga's first female assistant coach, helping Union survive a tense relegation fight.
Now the scrutiny has intensified. Dozens of journalists queued in Tuesday's drizzle to observe her first training session as head coach.
On the pitch, Eta displayed easy rapport with players, many of whom she worked with during her previous stint with the men's squad.
"Knowing many of the players and staff already helps," she said. "My first impression is the team is very receptive."
"People often ask if coaching men differs from coaching women. My answer is always no. It's about football and people. You build relationships with whoever's in front of you. Trust is what matters."
From the same coaching class as Hurzeler and Rohl
Eta's playing career included stints at Turbine Potsdam, Hamburger, Cloppenburg and Werder Bremen
Eta grew up idolizing David Beckham and built a solid career as a midfielder in the women's Bundesliga. She represented Germany at youth level and won the 2010 Champions League with Turbine Potsdam before injury forced early retirement in 2018.
When she earned her professional coaching license in 2023, she was the sole woman in a cohort that included current Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and Rangers boss Danny Rohl.
She joined Union as a youth coach later that year and quickly became a respected figure at the club. Beyond her brief 2024 spell with the men's team, she found success with the under-19s and helped guide Union's women to Bundesliga promotion last season.
In Berlin, Eta's appointment felt logical rather than surprising. She's viewed as a steady hand with meaningful experience across all levels of the game.
Hours after the announcement, Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel declared Union "could not have made a better choice", external for interim coach.
Known universally as Loui, Eta was the obvious candidate. Her appointment has resonated with Union's devoted supporters.
"I was really happy and not surprised at all," Cornelia Wolter, a season-ticket holder and member of fan club Grenzenlos Eisern, told BBC Sport. "She knows the club and players well and is popular among fans."
Fan group Ecke Nord wrote, external on social media: "Loui is our new Iron Lady," referencing the club's nickname.
Not everyone has been supportive. This week Union defended Eta against a surge of sexist abuse on social media.
"I never read social media comments," she said. "They reveal more about the people posting them than anyone else."
When asked if the abuse she received suggested German society was regressing on gender equality, Eta said she hoped her appointment would inspire others.
"It's obviously good if it opens doors and maybe shows young women what is possible for them to achieve in any walk of life," she said.
Aligning men and women's teams
Eta's appointment comes as Union Berlin positions itself as a pioneer in gender equality within German football.
Though the club only professionalized its women's team in 2023, it is now building one of the most ambitious projects in German women's football.
Both the men's and women's teams share the Alte Försterei stadium, and the women's side draws some of the highest average attendances among Europe's top leagues.
The integration will deepen further when Union completes a new training complex designed to house both teams under one roof.
"Two teams, one professional football department - that's our approach," club president Dirk Zingler said, external last year.
Eta embodies that philosophy, though her dual role could create complications. Just two weeks ago, she signed a contract to become the women's head coach starting next season.
Yet the club hasn't ruled out offering her the men's job permanently this summer.
"Union is a great club and to me it doesn't matter if I'm coaching the under-19s, the women or the men - I'm just happy to be here," Eta said.
"For now, I'm just focused on being as successful as possible with the men's team in the next few weeks."
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- Published30 August 2025
