1. FC Union Berlin has parted ways with head coach Steffen Baumgart, along with assistant coaches Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna. The Bundesliga club announced this Sunday night following their 1:3 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim. Marie-Louise Eta, who previously served as the coach for the U19 youth team, will now take over the sports direction of the men’s professional squad for the remainder of the season. This appointment makes her the first woman to head a Bundesliga men’s team. Eta had previously been promoted to co-coach in November 2023 after Urs Fischer was dismissed and Marco Grote filled the head coach role temporarily. However, reports suggest that Eta is slated to take over the women’s team at Köpenicker in the summer. Union Managing Director Horst Heldt stated that the current second half of the season has been “absolutely disappointing” and that the team urgently needs points to secure its place in the Bundesliga. With only two victories in fourteen games since the winter break, the current management was not convinced that a turnaround was possible with the existing structure. Heldt thanked Baumgart and his team for their efforts and wished them well for their future endeavors. Marie-Louise Eta indicated that the team’s status in the Bundesliga is not yet guaranteed, given the point gaps in the bottom half of the table. She expressed gratitude that the club entrusted her with this “challenging task” and remained confident that the team would secure the crucial points. The club expects to provide an update shortly regarding the future head coach for the U19 youth team.
Union Berlin Slashes Ties With Baumgart Eta Takes Over Coaching Role
