SportsPreview
The biggest question facing every WNBA team in training camp
WNBA training camps open with key questions for each team.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Female coach set to lead men’s team in Bundesliga, a first in Europe’s top five leagues
TL;DR
A female coach is set to lead a men's team in the Bundesliga, marking a historic first in Europe's top five football leagues. This decision reflects a significant shift in the coaching landscape, where women have faced challenges in entering men's football.
Photo by Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images
It is common in football to see male coaches working within the women’s game, with that pathway long established across Europe and beyond.
The opposite scenario, however, has remained extremely rare, with women struggling to break into top-level men’s football coaching roles despite growing visibility in the sport.
That landscape has now shifted in a historic way, with a top-tier European club making a landmark decision that marks a first across the continent’s biggest leagues.
Marie-Louise Eta becomes first female coach in Europe’s top five leagues
Photo by Max Ellerbrake – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Union Berlin confirmed on Saturday night that Marie-Louise Eta will take charge as head coach until the end of the season following the departure of Steffen Baumgart.
The appointment makes Eta the first woman to manage in one of Europe’s five major men’s leagues, the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga.
Union currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table and have won just two of their last 14 matches, a run that ultimately led to Baumgart leaving after more than a year in charge.
Eta is not new to the club, having already been part of Union Berlin’s coaching setup and previously working with the youth teams, where she built a strong reputation for development and tactical organisation.
A former professional player, Eta represented Germany at youth level before transitioning into her coaching career.
Her promotion now represents both a response to Union’s current struggles and a wider milestone for the sport, as she steps into a role that has historically been closed off to women at this level.
Read more:
Q&A
Which Bundesliga team has appointed a female coach for the men's team?
The specific Bundesliga team that appointed a female coach has not been disclosed in the provided information.
What does this appointment mean for women's roles in men's football coaching?
This appointment signifies a groundbreaking shift, potentially paving the way for more women to take on coaching roles in men's football.
How common are female coaches in men's football across Europe?
Female coaches in men's football are extremely rare, with this appointment being the first in Europe's top five leagues.
