Union Berlin has made history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. She becomes the first woman to manage a men's team in one of Europe's top five leagues. This decision follows the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart after a 3-1 defeat to bottom-placed FC Heidenheim.

Club performance has faltered recently, with the squad managing only two wins in 14 league outings during 2026. Although the team currently sits 11th in the Bundesliga, they hold only an 11-point cushion above the automatic relegation zone. Director Horst Heldt cited a lack of confidence in the current setup as the reason for this change.

Eta brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as the club's under-19s manager and the league's first female assistant coach. She faces a tight race to ensure safety, as the club sits just seven points clear of the relegation play-off spot held by St Pauli. Her primary objective involves securing enough points to avoid the drop.