That role in Union Berlin has been taken over by 34-year-old Marie-Louise Eta, who will have a clear task until the end of the season – to ensure survival in the Bundesliga.
The change on the bench followed a defeat to Heidenheim (1:3), after which the club decided to thank Stefan Baumgart and his coaching staff.
The decision was announced late in the evening, and the choice fell on Eta, the current coach of the under-19 youth team.
Although the situation in the table is not as dramatic as that of Wolfsburg, St. Pauli, Cologne or Werder, Union did not want to take any risks after a poor series of results.
Interestingly, Eta already has experience managing the first team – in 2024, she was a temporary solution during Nenad Bjelica's suspension, and then Union defeated Darmstadt 1-0.
Even earlier, in 2023, she made history as the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Her coaching career began after a rich playing career, during which she played for clubs such as Potsdam, Hamburger and Werder, and with Potsdam she won the Champions League in 2010.
She is expected to make her debut as head coach next weekend against Wolfsburg.
"I am delighted that the club gave me the opportunity and entrusted me with this task. Our greatest strength in Uion has been and will be that we know how to gather strength when it matters most and get results. I believe that will be the case now as well," said Eta.
CEO Horst Held confirmed that the situation was serious:
"We had an absolutely disappointing second half of the season. We won't let the table fool us. Our situation is precarious, we had to react in time. We want to secure survival as soon as possible. Two wins in the last 14 games didn't give the impression that things could get better."
For Eta, who has been at Union since 2023, this is the biggest challenge of her career so far – but also a historic opportunity to confirm that changes in modern football are no longer the exception, but the new reality.
