Marie-Louise Eta has become the first woman appointed to manage a men's team in one of Europe's top five leagues after being named interim head coach of Bundesliga side Union Berlin. Eta, 34, is no stranger to breaking barriers, becoming the Bundesliga's first female assistant coach, also with Union Berlin, in November 2023. Eta, a former Germany youth international and Women's Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, has been working as Union Berlin's under-19s manager since July 2025 and will become the club's women's head coach in the summer. Eta pointed to the challenges she faces, with Union seven points ahead of St Pauli, who sit in the relegation play-off spot. Corinne Diacre spent three seasons in charge of Clermont Foot in France's Ligue 2 from 2014 to 2017, leaving to become head coach of the France women's team.

Source: BBC April 12, 2026 07:47 UTC