Union Berlin appoint first female manager in Bundesliga history

Union Berlin have made a historic decision as they have become the first men’s team from the Bundesliga to name a female manager.

In fact, the German club are the first side from the top five leagues in Europe to take this decision, as they have named a woman as interim manager for the remainder of the season, in which they have five more games to play.

Marie-Louise Eta is the name of the history maker, with her appointment coming after the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, whose team lost 3-1 to bottom side FC Heidenheim on Saturday.

She will be expected to ensure the club sees out the season by not getting dragged into the relegation playoff position, as they are seven points clear of the club that occupies this place, St Pauli, with five games remaining to maintain their top-flight status.

Leopold Querfeld of 1. FC Union Berlin celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Tom Rothe during the Bundesliga (Getty Images)

The appointment of Eta is not the first time that she has made history within the men’s game, as she was the first female to be appointed an assistant coach of a Bundesliga side when Union Berlin named her in this role in November 2023.

She has also taken charge of the side on the touchline, the first woman to do so with a Bundesliga team, deputising for then-manager Nenad Bjelica, who was serving a three-match suspension, during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024.

Eta is an incredibly experienced individual on and off the pitch as a former Germany youth international and Women's Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam before working as Union Berlin's under-19 manager since July 2025, and she is set to become the club's women's head coach in the summer.

Union’s interim manager has spoken about the challenges that she faces for the remainder of the season with the Bundesliga side.

Eta said: “"Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure.

"I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union's strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.

Marco Grote, Interim Head Coach and Marie-Louise Eta of 1.FC Union Berlin, look on prior to the Bundesliga match (Getty Image)

"I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points."

The first appointment of a female manager of a professional men’s team in Europe came 27 years ago when Carolina Morace was named in the role for Viterbese in 1999, an Italian third division side.

Corinne Diacre spent three seasons in charge of Clermont Foot in France's Ligue 2 from 2014 to 2017 before taking the decision to leave to become head coach of the France women's team.

Meanwhile in England, Hannah Dingley became the first woman to manage a professional men's team in English football when she was appointed caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers in July 2023, but she did not take charge of a match.

Emma Hayes was also heavily linked to the AFC Wimbledon managerial role in February 2021 while in charge of Chelsea, but she called the speculation an insult that she would move from Women’s Super League’s Chelsea to a lower-league men's team.