The Bundesliga’s first female coach has taken over the women’s team. Her club gave her many reasons to
He calls their names one by one. The way he always has. And they are ready on the terraces to respond, the way they always have. This is their pre-match sermon, Christian Arbeit — the stadium announcer — a kind of pastor; the 22,000 supporters inside the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei his congregation, the players their gods. You can make these kinds of references here, in the church of Union…
Four months after stepping onto the pitch in a Bundesliga match, Marie-Louise Eta arrived at Union Berlin Women's first press conference, arriving nine minutes and 58 seconds late. She was appointed head coach of the women's team after the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart in April 2026, marking a significant milestone in the world of football.
As a former Germany international, Champions League winner, and two-time Frauen-Bundesliga champion, Eta had already made history by being the first woman in a men's Champions League match, the only woman in her DFB Pro Licence class, and the only woman coaching boys' football in a Bundesliga academy.
The occasion of her press conference was for Union Berlin Women's season opener against Bayern Munich. Eta acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed her focus on high-octane, high-pressing football. Union Berlin, only in their second year in the Frauen-Bundesliga, had risen from the third tier in 2023-24 and had ambitions of finishing in the top third of the league.
Eta's arrival was met with praise from her players for her communication, diligence, and ability to care for them and the results. Despite facing skepticism from some pundits, Eta proved to be a capable leader, achieving two wins in her five matches in charge. Her commitment to the women's team remains steadfast, with club president Dirk Zingler reaffirming her involvement in the senior women's team.
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