Horst Heldt, the sporting director of Union Berlin, has strongly supported the decision to appoint Marie-Louise Eta as the interim head coach of the Bundesliga team. This groundbreaking appointment makes her the first woman to lead a top-tier club in any of Europe’s top five leagues (Germany, Spain, England, France, and Italy). Unfortunately, following the announcement over the weekend, Eta has faced sexist comments on social media.
“It’s frankly embarrassing. I noticed it, but I also refuse to read or even expose myself to such nonsense because, for me, it’s about quality – leadership quality,” stated Heldt, as reported by the BBC. “We have 100% faith in Loui – total conviction. I find it absurd that we still have to deal with this in our time.”
Marie-Louise Eta, 34, has prior experience managing the team in January 2024 for three matches, serving as assistant manager to Nenad Bjelica during his three-match suspension. She retired from professional football at the age of 26 in 2018, having achieved success with Turbine Potsdam, winning three Bundesliga titles and a Champions League. Heldt emphasized her capabilities, saying, “We are talking about a very capable leader here, and you can be sure that everyone here at Union, whether in the stands or within the club itself, is 100% behind this decision and will do everything in their power to ensure that this does not lead to further discussions in the future.”
Eta steps in to replace Steffen Baumgart. Union Berlin is currently eleventh in the 18-team Bundesliga, seven points above the relegation zone, with only two wins in 2026. Her first match as head coach is scheduled for Saturday against Wolfsburg, but she is expected to be replaced at the end of the season.