Union coach Eta wants focus on football after landmark appointment
Union Berlin coach Marie-Louise Eta took her first training session in charge of the men's team on Tuesday. (RALF HIRSCHBERGER) Union Berlin coach Marie-Louise Eta said Thursday she was looking forward to questions about football rather than her pioneering role as the first female manager of a men's team in a top European league. Eta, 34, was named Union coach on Sunday after predecessor Steffen Baumgart was fired.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the announcement, Eta sought to shift the focus to Saturday's home clash with Wolfsburg and Union's battle to beat the drop. "I'm looking forward to the match starting and when it's finally about football," Eta told reporters. "I know this has a social impact and significance," Eta said, but added: "For me, it's always been about football, about working with people, and about what I enjoy most: being as successful as possible together.
" "They trust me here, and I'm delighted by that trust. I'm happy to be here. " Union sit seven points from the relegation playoff spot with five games remaining, while Wolfsburg are second last and are seven points from safety.
Eta, who became the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history at Union in 2023, is still slated to take over the club's women's team in the summer regardless of how the men's side finishes the season. The announcement has attracted major attention in Germany and abroad. While much of the response has been positive, including from Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany who called the announcement "really important", it has also attracted a series of negative comments made on social media.
"There simply wasn't time to delve into anything. I've been told that there have been hate comments. "But I also know that there have been a lot of positive comments, and I think that's wonderful and should outweigh the negative ones.