Union Berlin names first female head coach in history of Bundesliga
Union Berlin just made history.
BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 28: Marie-Louise Eta, Interim Head Coach of 1. FC Union Berlin, looks on during the warm up prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and SV Darmstadt 98 at An der Alten Foersterei on January 28, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.
(Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) | Getty Images After getting thrashed 3-1 by last place Heidenheim, Union Berlin sacked manager Steffen Baumgart and made a historic move in hiring Marie-Louise Eta as its interim head coach. Eta becomes the first female head coach of a team in the Bundesliga. Below is the release from Union Berlin’s website : Head coach Steffen Baumgart and assistant coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna were relieved of their duties today, Saturday.
“We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season so far and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position,” said Union’s director of men’s professional football, Horst Heldt, on the decision. “Our situation remains precarious and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league. Two wins from fourteen matches since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can still turn things around with the current set-up.
We have therefore decided to make a fresh start. “I am delighted that Marie Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before becoming head coach of the women’s professional team in the summer as planned. We would like to thank Steffen Baumgart, Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna for their work, to whom we owe our secure survival in the league last season and a good points haul in the first half of this season.