Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga This is not just another change on the bench. On April 11, 2026, 1. FC Union Berlin made a move that will go down in the history of European football. Following a defeat to Heidenheim and the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, the club appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach of the men’s first team. In doing so, the 34 year old became the first woman in history to take on a head coach role in the Bundesliga and in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
However, for the women’s football community, this story carries even deeper meaning. Eta is not an outsider from the men’s game. She is a former top level player, a German champion, and a UEFA Women’s Champions League winner who has steadily built her reputation after retiring from professional football. Moreover, as previously announced, she was already set to take over Union Berlin’s women’s first team as head coach from the summer of 2026. Her current role with the men’s team is a response to an unexpected situation and a clear sign of the club’s trust in her.
Early Years and Success in Women’s Football
Marie-Louise Eta, née Bagehorn, was born on July 7, 1991, in Dresden. Football was a natural part of her life from an early age. She achieved her first successes in the Turbine Potsdam academy, where she won multiple German U17 championships.
She made her debut in the Frauen Bundesliga at just 17 years old. The most successful period of her playing career came between 2008 and 2011 with Turbine Potsdam. During that time, she won three consecutive German championships and, in 2010, lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy, one of the most prestigious titles in women’s football.
She later played for Hamburger SV, BV Cloppenburg, and Werder Bremen, before retiring in 2018 at the age of 26. At international level, she represented Germany in youth teams, including winning the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
From Player to Coach
Retirement did not mean stepping away from football. Eta quickly transitioned into coaching, beginning her career within the German Football Association. She worked with youth national teams in women’s football, gaining valuable experience and developing her coaching philosophy.
A major breakthrough came in the summer of 2023 when she joined Union Berlin as an assistant coach for the men’s U19 team. Just a few months later, she made history as the first woman to be part of a coaching staff in the Bundesliga and the men’s UEFA Champions League.
In January 2024, she reached another milestone. She became the first woman to lead a men’s team from the sidelines in a Bundesliga match. Her rise has been rapid, but far from accidental.
A Breakthrough Moment in Her Career
The 2025/26 season confirmed her credentials. As head coach of Union Berlin’s men’s U19 team, she led the side to the DFB Nachwuchsliga title without a single defeat. This achievement played a key role in the club’s decision to entrust her with even greater responsibility.
Now, Eta faces one of the biggest challenges of her career. She will lead Union Berlin’s men’s first team for the final five matches of the 2025/26 season, with the club fighting to secure its place in the Bundesliga. The team currently sits mid table, but the closing stages of the season will be crucial.
Eta holds a UEFA Pro license and prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation. In previous interviews, she has emphasized that in coaching, gender is irrelevant. What matters are competence, preparation, and the ability to manage a team.
What This Means for Football
Her story is more than just an individual success. It sends a powerful message to the entire football world, both in Germany and beyond. It shows that a pathway from women’s football, through youth development and into men’s teams, can lead to the highest levels of coaching.
Union Berlin has made its stance clear. In modern football, it is quality that matters, not stereotypes.
