'Great energy': Marie-Louise Eta starts Union Berlin training

Matthias Koch/dpa Marie-Louise Eta arrived with a big smile on her face for Union Berlin training on Tuesday as the first woman in a European top league to take charge of a men's team. "Come together, lads," she said as she addressed the players in a short speech before the exercises in rainy conditions. The session was closed for fans but Union president Dirk Zingler was present for the historic occasion along with around 40 German and international media representatives.

Eta mainly watched on during the first half-hour before taking charge when forms of play were trained. "Full throttle," she shouted, but also "lads, listen. " “Great energy, a positive atmosphere.

Especially after the day off, there was a lot of intensity and plenty of football, so overall I’m very, very pleased with today’s first session – it was a good start,” Eta said in a club video after training. Eta was appointed head coach late Saturday for the remaining five games of the Bundesliga season, but possibly also beyond, in succession of Steffen Baumgart, who had to go after a 3-1 defeat at bottom club Heidenheim. Union are 11th but have won only two of their games in 2026 and are not safe yet seven points above the danger zone.

Eta's first match in charge is on Saturday against second-last Wolfsburg. A victory would save Union from the direct drop. Eta already worked as Union assistant coach in 2023 and before Saturday was in charge of the under-19 team.