In April, Marie-Louise Eta made history by becoming the first woman to lead a men’s top-flight team in one of Europe’s big five leagues, stepping in as interim head coach of Union Berlin after the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart. Her mission was clear: keep Union in the Bundesliga. She achieved this with a commendable record of two wins, a draw, and two losses, finishing the season in 11th place.

Eta's journey has been groundbreaking; three years prior, she became the first woman to serve as an assistant coach in the men’s Bundesliga. Her recent appointment has garnered attention from figures like Vincent Kompany, who noted it could inspire younger women aspiring to coaching careers.

Reflecting on her experiences, the 35-year-old stated, “For me, it was never about being the first. It quickly became clear that it wasn’t about making history, but about supporting a team and achieving success together once again.” Despite facing intense scrutiny regarding her gender, she focused on performance and teamwork. Union's early struggles included losses to Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig, but they rebounded with a draw against Cologne and a 3-1 victory at Mainz.

Eta expressed her desire to be judged by the same standards as her male colleagues, emphasizing that her work should speak for itself. She faced sexist abuse online, but also received encouragement from women and girls inspired by her journey.

As she transitions to coaching the Union women’s team, her goals include building a squad that plays with courage and intensity, focusing on player development alongside results. After a challenging start to the season, including a 4-1 loss to Bayern Munich, the team has shown resilience with victories over RB Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Magdeburg in the cup.

Eta’s tactical approach has evolved, reflecting her ambition to establish a strong team identity. Though she remains focused on football and teamwork, she acknowledges the broader significance of her role, inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams in sports.