Marie-Louise Eta, the newly appointed coach of Union Berlin, has made history as the first female manager in Bundesliga history. Aware of the attention surrounding her appointment last week, she stated on Thursday that her primary focus is on steering the team back towards victories.
On Saturday, Eta was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, with Union currently positioned in 11th place.
She will manage the men’s first team until the end of the season before transitioning to the club’s women’s team.
“I completely understand that this topic (of being the first female Bundesliga coach) is being discussed publicly,” she expressed at a press conference ahead of her first match on Saturday against struggling VfL Wolfsburg.
“I recognise the importance of this issue, but for me, it has always been about football, working with people, and achieving success.”
“I have the club’s trust, and I appreciate that. The priority now is to prepare for the upcoming game against Wolfsburg,” Eta added.
When asked if she had any reservations about accepting the role last week, Eta remarked: “There was nothing to think about. I was at home on Saturday and was initially surprised to receive the call, but then I felt grateful for the trust bestowed upon me, and things progressed quickly from there.”
Eta noted that her appointment is not an isolated case, as more women are taking on significant roles across numerous clubs worldwide.
“There are female coaches who have paved the way for me in various countries,” she stated. “I understand the interest in this topic, but it would be refreshing if we could simply focus on success on the field without the surrounding controversy.”
Previously, Eta has coached Union’s Under-19 team.
She became the first female assistant coach in the Bundesliga with Union in 2023, but her new role has also led to some derogatory comments on social media, which the club has condemned.
“The comments on social media don’t faze me because they reflect more about those posting than about me or the others involved,” she said.
“The prominence of my appointment might have caught us off guard, as it was never a big deal for us. I hope that over the coming years, this lessens and that people concentrate more on the football.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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