Marie-Louise Eta becomes first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history & will work alongside USMNT star Brenden Aaronson at Union Berlin after Urs Fischer sacking

Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as the first female assistant in Bundesliga history marks a significant milestone for Union Berlin. With the recent sacking of Urs Fischer, who led the team to qualify for the Champions League last season, Union finds themselves at the bottom of the Bundesliga table due to a tumultuous start to the new campaign.

Eta, who retired from playing in 2018 after a successful career that included winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Turbine Potsdam as part of an impressive treble in 2010, has since pursued coaching roles. She has worked with various youth teams, including Werder Bremen, the German national team, and now Union Berlin. Eta initially joined Union earlier this year as an assistant coach for the Under-19s under Marco Grote. However, following Fischer’s departure, she has now been promoted to join the first-team staff, assuming this historic role until further notice.

While female coaches have made strides in men’s football at different levels, such as Carolina Morace coaching a professional men’s team in Italy’s Serie C1 and Corinne Diacre making her name coaching Clermont Foot in Ligue 2, Eta’s appointment in the Bundesliga stands as a significant moment in the sport. Her inclusion in Union’s temporary coaching staff serves as a rare example of a woman coaching a men’s top-flight team.

This change in coaching staff marks a new era for Union Berlin, as they look to transform their fortunes on the pitch. Fischer’s five-year tenure was filled with remarkable achievements, but the team’s poor start to this season necessitated a shift in direction. Union will hope that the fresh perspectives provided by Grote, Eta, and the rest of the coaching staff will lead to improved performance and a climb up the Bundesliga standings.

The impact of these changes extends beyond the coaching staff. USMNT star Brenden Aaronson, who is currently on loan from Leeds, will undoubtedly be eager for this new chapter to bring him more opportunities to showcase his talent. The Union forward has faced challenges in finding playing time thus far, and he will be hopeful that the coaching shake-up will open doors for him to make a greater contribution to the team’s success.

As Union Berlin embarks on this new chapter, the club and its supporters eagerly anticipate positive changes both on and off the field. With Marie-Louise Eta’s historic role as the first female assistant in Bundesliga history, Union Berlin pushes boundaries and highlights the increasing diversity within the beautiful game.