Wed, April 15, 2026
Union Berlin’s Director of Football states abuse of new female head coach Marie-Louise Eta is ‘embarrassing’ and ‘insane’
Union Berlin’s Director of Football, Horst Heldt, has stated that the abuse of new head coach Marie-Louise Eta is ‘embarrassing’ and ‘insane.’ Eta has been appointed as interim head coach of the men’s team at Union Berlin, the first woman appointed to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues, the Bundesliga. In 2023, she became the first woman to be appointed as an assistant coach in the German men’s top division. She deputised for Nenad Bjelica in 2024 during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt.
This is a temporary position for her as she will take charge of Union Berlin’s women’s team this summer. She herself was a player for Turbine Potsdam and part of the squad who won the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2009-10.
Since this was announced, she has faced sexist abuse on social media, to which Heldt told BBC Sport: “It's just embarrassing. I've noticed it, but I also refuse to read or even just expose myself to that kind of nonsense because for me this is about quality - leadership quality…
We have 100% confidence in Loui - complete conviction. I find it insane that we have to deal with this in this day and age…
We're talking about a highly competent leader here, and you can be sure that everyone here at Union, whether in the stands or within the club itself, stands 100% behind this decision and will do everything in their power to ensure that this doesn't lead to any further discussion in the future.”
Heldt also pointed out: “She had a great run with the [men’s] U19s team, so she's already fulfilled a role as head coach and is experienced…
Another advantage is that we all know her and she knows us. She doesn't need to be shown the ropes here - she knows it all. She knows the stadium, the atmosphere, the people and, above all, the players…
We're convinced that a head coach can only truly be a head coach if they've held that role before, which is why she is the logical next step.”
In another recent progressive update, FIFA is going to make it compulsory for all teams in its women’s competitions to have either a female head coach or assistant coach across youth and senior women’s football tournaments, national team competitions and club competitions. Furthermore, at least one of the medical staff must be female, and at least two officials seated on the team bench must be female as well.
