BERLIN (AP) 鈥� Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta says she understands the commotion over becoming the first female head coach in the Bundesliga but she just wants to get on with her job.
Eta made her first media appearance on Thursday, four days after she was after Steffan Baumgart was fired. She has five games.
鈥淔or me it鈥檚 always about football, it鈥檚 about working with people, and what I like most 鈥� enjoying as much success as possible together,鈥� Eta said.
It’s not her first time breaking barriers. She was the in the Bundesliga, also with Union, in 2023, and has been working as the Union Berlin Under-19 men’s coach since July.
鈥淚鈥檓 trusted here. I appreciate that trust,” she said. “I鈥檓 happy to be here. I鈥檓 happy we have a Bundesliga match this weekend, and I know that this has a social impact and perhaps even sends a message. I understand that. But the most important thing right now is what鈥檚 happening in the next few days, that we prepare ourselves as well as possible for the Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg.鈥�
Union is only seven points clear of the relegation zone after winning just two games in 2026. Wolfsburg鈥檚 plight is even worse, second to last and seven points from safety with five rounds remaining.
The announcement of 34-year-old Eta鈥檚 appointment prompted sexist and derogatory comments on social media, leading .
Eta said she didn鈥檛 pay any attention to the negative comments but pointed to an overwhelming positive reaction, including from Bundesliga rivals.
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said he was 鈥渢hrilled鈥� by Eta鈥檚 appointment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always easy to downplay these key moments and say she鈥檚 just a coach like any other,鈥� Kompany said. 鈥淏ut in the end it鈥檚 something truly special. It opens opportunities for younger women who feel they can become coaches, too. It opens doors. I wish her all the best.鈥�
St. Pauli counterpart Alexander Blessin said Eta deserved her chance.
鈥淚f the quality is there, every person deserves it, then gender doesn鈥檛 matter. I find it a shame that we鈥檙e still discussing it,鈥� Blessin said.
Breaking barriers
Eta is the first female head coach across the big five top divisions in men鈥檚 soccer in Spain, England, France, Italy and Germany.
Union鈥檚 small media room usually suffices, but it was packed with text writers, videographers and photographers on Thursday. Spanish-speaking journalists attested to the interest far beyond the Berlin borough of K枚penick where Union is based.
Eta entered the room with a cheery 鈥淗allo!鈥� and quickly tried to shift focus to the team鈥檚 upcoming game on Saturday.
鈥淚 understand the interest in principle. We already had something similar about 2 陆 years ago,鈥� Eta said, referring to her time as assistant coach. 鈥淚鈥檓 familiar with it, and fundamentally what was always important to me was that we focus on the day-to-day aspects and the sense of community that happens on the pitch. It鈥檚 about football, it鈥檚 about performance.鈥�
Union sporting chief Horst Heldt on Monday didn鈥檛 rule out Eta staying in charge of the men鈥檚 team beyond the five remaining league games, though she was already lined up to take over the women鈥檚 team.
鈥淣ext year in any case I鈥檒l still be a coach,鈥� she said.
Eta said she was happy if her appointment 鈥渙pens up new paths and doors, perhaps even creates inspiration for young girls so they perhaps can see, hey, everything鈥檚 possible.鈥�
But she made clear she wishes it wasn鈥檛 an issue.
鈥淚 hope that in the coming years,” she said, 鈥渁ll of this will become even less important and that eventually only football will be the deciding factor.鈥�
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