Union Berlin have appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach, making her the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five football leagues.

Eta, 34, steps in until the end of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart after Union’s 3-1 defeat to FC Heidenheim, reports BBC.

The club currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 11 points above the relegation zone with five matches remaining, but have managed only two league wins in 2026.

Already a trailblazer, Eta became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach when she joined Union Berlin’s coaching staff in July 2023. She later briefly led the team from the touchline in January 2024, becoming the first woman to do so in a Bundesliga match.

A former Germany youth international and UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, Eta has most recently been managing Union’s Under-19 side since July 2025 and is set to take over as the club’s women’s head coach in the summer.

Union’s director of men’s football Horst Heldt said the decision was driven by the team’s poor recent form and the need for a fresh approach as they fight to secure their top-flight status.

Eta acknowledged the pressure of the situation, noting that Union remain in a precarious position despite their points advantage over the relegation zone, but expressed confidence that the team can secure the necessary results.

Her appointment marks another milestone in European football, more than two decades after Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in Europe, followed by figures such as Corinne Diacre and Hannah Dingley in similar roles.